Murphy’s TV antics have Goldson ready for Ibrox
Jamie Murphy claims to have given Connor Goldson the perfect preparation for life as a Rangers player.
The pair were team- mates and friends at Brighton, an experience which had Goldson regularly looking on in bemusement as Murphy kicked and headed every ball whenever the Light Blues matches were televised.
“I was always confident Connor would join us,” said the Scotland internationalist.
“When I heard there was a chance for him to come up here, I gave him a phone. Not to try to sell the club to him, but he did he seem very interested.
“Mind you, that’s maybe because he’d seen me watching Rangers games for about three years, jumping around in front of the television at the Brighton camp.
“He’d see all the other players sitting eating their lunch, and me off on my own in a chair in front of the TV watching Rangers.
“He would want to know what it was all about. “So when he encounters the passion of the fans at Ibrox, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to him because he’s seen me living it from afar.”
The centre- half has come north with a decent reputation, one which Murphy says is well-deserved.
“Connor’s a great player. He was unlucky at Brighton to not play every week,” he recalled.
“We had three or four excellent centrehalves, which is probably always the case in the Premier League.
“He’s got a bit of everything, to be fair. “As a defender, he can run, he’s fit, he’s fast. He’s also good in the air and on the ball as well. He can only benefit us.
“He was a tough opponent for me in training. If you want to go in behind, he’s quick enough to catch you. But he’s strong enough to go up against you.
“Coming to Rangers can be a test of character, but nothing seems to concern Connor and he will do well. He’s going to be right up for a fight if need be, or up for playing with the ball if that’s what’s required.
“I’m looking forward to having him in the team.”
Not that Murphy is taking his own place for granted, with Steven Gerrard still to show his hand in terms of the type of football he wants to play.
“I know I am going to have to prove myself again – absolutely that is the case,” he said.
“I don’t think you get anywhere resting on your past. You have to try hard every day at training to do your best and show that you want to be a part of it.
“To be fair, I am pretty used to new managers. In the space of my 11-year career, I have had plenty of them.
“I will try and list them all – Terry Butcher, Maurice Malpas, Mark McGhee, Jim Gannon, Craig Brown, Stuart McCall, Danny Wilson, Chris Morgan, David Weir, Nigel Clough, Nigel Adkins, Chris Hughton, Graeme Murty and Steven Gerrard.
“That makes 14!
“You know when a new manager comes in, things are going to change. They become a little bit different and it is up to you to adapt, get used to it and get ready for the season.”
“It keeps you on your toes and, in fairness, I think that is what has made me into the player I am now.
“I think if I had had one manager all the way through my career, I wouldn’t have gone as far.
“But if you can take something from working with every manager that you have, then you are going to go a long way.”
Several thousand miles, as it turned out in the summer, with Murphy one of Scotland’s tour party on the trip to Mexico and Peru.
With plenty of players missing the trip for a variety of reasons, it is an effort he hopes will buy some credit with the new national manager, Alex McLeish.
“Obviously going away, you want to impress and do well. I am sure the manager would appreciate that,” Murphy continued.
“As far as I was concerned, it was a chance to play for your country. Going away and spending time with boys who could become regular team-mates.
“That is only going to be good.
“I got an hour and a bit against Peru in Lima. “It was my first start and another cap, so that was good.
“Results apart, it went pretty well. We lost both games, but both opponents were good teams who were going to the World Cup.
“That is where we want to get to.”