Stevie’s got access to all the science going at Rangers but old school bossing trumps tech any day
Archie’s sure Ibrox players prefer traditional methods CRAIG SWAN
ARCHIE KNOX has seen Steven Gerrard emulate the European record set by himself and Walter Smith. And having matched the former Rangers management duo with statistics, the ex-Ibrox hero says the new man is doing the same with actions day in and day out at Murray Park as he instils oldschool practices and ethics back into the club. Gerrard has a chance to set a new continental landmark of 11 games undefeated on Thursday when his side take on Spartak Moscow in the Europa League. Having gone 10 undefeated the rookie boss has matched the Scottish record and reached the figure achieved by Smith and assistant Knox in 1992-93. It might be the second-tier competition compared to Smith and Knox racking up their record in the Champions League but it still represents an impressive beginning to life in Europe for Gerrard. Knox also sees smart signs on the domestic front and believes much of the Scouser’s success is due to an old-fashioned approach. Gerrard has every modern facility at his disposal with sports science and nutritional experts on the staff. But when it comes to games and players, Knox believes the gaffer is a throwback to the past. He said: “I know he doesn’t have managerial experience but he has so much football c.swan@dailyrecord.co.uk
experience. He captained Liverpool, won over 100 caps for England and captained them as well, so everyone will have been in awe of him.
“His approach to management will be the same as he approached playing. There will sports science and all that stuff but with him I think it’s the old brigade kicking in at Rangers.
“You go to training, you get on with training and if you don’t work at the level which is needed then you won’t get a game. I have seen that within Gerrard. It comes through loud and clear he’s that way inclined.
“The lad Nicola Katic didn’t have his best game at Hamilton at the weekend. Then he found out you’ll get taken off.
“He knows how to deal with players and while he gives off a calmness, when the goals are scored he is really up for it. He has that passion.
“In the Premier League, and maybe to an extent up here, the manager is all about the first team. In older days Alex Ferguson, Walter and Jim McLean watched the youth games. A lot of that doesn’t happen now.
“But I know for a fact Gerrard is interested in what is coming through, what is happening at the Academy, and he’s been taking some of these lads into the first-team training.
“Maybe this is because he saw how it worked at Liverpool and of course this is how he got his chance. If a kid shows their worth they will get a chance. It’s all you can ask for.
“Fans can’t be kidded. They see what’s going on, who is playing well and badly, even the dyed-in-thewool supporters. They don’t know about sports sciences, they go with what they see on the pitch.”
What they are seeing has pleased the Light Blues faithful and little wonder.
Reaching the group stage of the Europa League at his first attempt was a superb opening
salvo, yet the opportunity is now there for Rangers to go further.
Victory over Spartak would not only break the 10-game record of Smith and Knox, it would also put the team on to seven points after just three matches in the group and have them right in line for a spot in the last 32.
Knox said: “Gerrard will use his own European experience in these games. He’s not scared to make changes to get the result so they have all been bang at it.
“That will keep going. A difficult bit will come when the loan players have to go back or if he tries to recruit them and I don’t think he’s had anyone who hasn’t really looked the part.
“They still have some massive games but if they win on Thursday Rangers will have a great chance of getting through.”
Domestic matters are also coming together with Rangers staying in touch near the top in the opening couple of months.
Points have been dropped and an opening Old Firm game lost to Celtic.
But the Ibrox team are just two points behind the champions at this stage and only five behind Hearts, on whom they have inflicted the only defeat of the term.
While Europe is fun home is where the real pressure is and Knox is adamant that Gerrard will know exactly what is required from him when it comes to the Premiership – winning it.
He said: “He knew that right from the word go. It was the same at Liverpool, it’s the same at Celtic. You have to win. Sometimes how you win doesn’t really matter.
“Take the Hamilton game for example. They equalise and for a while I thought that Hamilton might win as Rangers have been poor away from home.
“But they got a win, albeit the penalties were soft.
“Nobody will forget that if they finish first – or second for that matter.”