IBROX FANS NEED TO GET OFF THE BOOS
Steven Gerrard has been urged to beg Rangers fans to lay off the boos if they want to see their team be champions again.
The Ibrox boss has seen his side stutter in front of fans again after romping to the Premiership crown behind closed doors last season.
That has brought Rangers skipper James Tavernier’s infamous pre-pandemic match programme comments, that some of the players couldn’t handle the pressure of playing in front of demanding crowds, to the fore again.
Top sports psychologist Tom Lucas believes Gers could have a problem – and their fans aren’t helping.
Lucas, who has worked with Celtic, Motherwell and Everton as well as top individuals and Olympic athletes, said: “There’s an element of truth in it, especially when they pick on their favourites for criticism.
“James Tavernier has been the butt of that kind of vitriolic abuse for at least two seasons now and I think that affects him.
“Bear in mind he’s the captain and that wi l l permeate through the rest of the team. And when individuals are being constantly criticised then they’ll play in fear.
“They’re making errors which are not only costly but preventable. If you start off playing edgily then that’s what happens.
“If you’re worried about what will happen if you make a mistake then you will make more mistakes and you need to find a way to rectify it.
“If you’re not given that opportunity then things will only spiral and get worse.
“It’s no coincidence that Rangers’ best season happened when they were playing in front of empty stands and I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking they benefited from that.
“The atmosphere at Ibrox can be tremendously inspiring for the home players but it can also be intimidating.
“It’s a worry if a player is running out of the tunnel thinking, ‘ If I miss a chance today I’ll be dropped’ because that’s a recipe for disaster and constant barracking doesn’t help them one iota. Celtic, by
contrast, suffered in a negative sense due to the lack of fans, as did Liverpool down south.
“It could be the supporters of those clubs are more patient and inclined to encourage their team when things aren’t going well whereas Rangers followers tend to get on top of their players in those situations.”
Lucas, who established his Head To Head company in 1994, believes that an appeal from Gerrard to the boo boys could go a long way to help Rangers retain their title – and claim the £40million Champions League cash prize which goes with it.
He added: “I feel that the club should do more in terms of telling the fans that they need to stop this, that their support is needed but not the condemnation and the jeering and picking on certain players. When that happens, things only get worse.
“Steven Gerrard is revered by the support and if he told them to stop verbally assaulting the players then I believe that the majority of the people who do that would not only think twice about it but also pull up others if they started doing it during matches.
“Some people think, ‘I’ve paid for my ticket so I can shout what I like’ but you can’t. You have no right to abuse anybody. This culture has to change.
“If Steven Gerrard had said after the Aberdeen game on Wednesday that this was an issue, then I’ve no doubt you would see a sea change this weekend. I think that needs to happen otherwise they could end up losing the league.”
When you are being constantly criticised then you will play with fear