GERS CAN’T WIN CHAMPS LEAGUE BUT THEY HAVE TO WIN 9 IN A ROW
My old club need a 100 per cent record from spell before Qatar
I’M not going to say I’m glad the international break is out of the way.
As a matter of fact, I absolutely loved watching Scotland over the past couple of weeks.
I’m delighted for Steve Clarke and his players at what they have achieved.
Not only have they produced three incredible performances to clinch promotion to the top flight of the Nations League.
They’ve made it fun being a Scotland fan again and I don’t think this country can thank them enough for that.
So please don’t take this the wrong way lads – you’re all heroes in my eyes.
But I must admit I’m already itching for the nitty-gritty to get going again at Tynecastle tomorrow when the domestic game comes out of cold storage.
Hearts away, at half 12 on a Saturday afternoon, knowing a win will take them to the top of the table?
If I were in that Rangers dressing room right now, I couldn’t imagine a better way to get back down to the business of winning back this title and sending out a message the fight hasn’t even started yet.
There are eight Premiership games and a League Cup quarter-final to play before the domestic game shuts down again for the World Cup.
And the target for Rangers is crystal clear – they have to win every single one of them. No ifs, no buts.
Of course, they also have four Champions League games to deal with over this period, so it’s going to be a demanding stretch.
But as much as those big European nights are brilliant to be involved in, it’s time for these players to prioritise the bread and butter.
Look, Rangers aren’t going to win the Champions League.
We all know they’ll have their work cut out just to take third place in the group and drop into the Europa League.
I’m sure that’s a target they’ll have set themselves.
But the bottom line is it’s what happens right here on their own doorstep that is going to make or break their season.
That’s why they should be aiming to rack up their very own nine in a row between now and November 12 when they complete this block of matches away at St Mirren.
That’s where Celtic slipped up last time out and the points they dropped unexpectedly in Paisley should have fired Rangers up for what lies ahead.
That result should have shown them that Ange Postecoglou’s players are only human after all.
So now the gap is down to just two points, this is the time to put them under some intense pressure and really test their mettle.
It starts at the best possible place. Tynecastle was always my favourite away ground because, when you got off the team bus, you knew you were going into a real battle if you wanted to go home with a win.
And nothing concentrates the mind like that.
There’s no time to play your way back into form or gradually get back up to full speed.
It’s going to be hell for leather from the moment they step out on to the pitch and they have to be ready to fight, kick and scratch their way to three points.
They might think the pressure is off because the Scotland boys have been in the spotlight for a fortnight but that would be a mistake they can’t afford to make.
No, they have to remember exactly how it felt when the heat was on them before the break.
And they have to come out swinging the same way they did against Napoli when they were fighting for their own professional pride.
I know they ended up on the end of another heavy scoreline that night after James Sands was sent off. But for an hour they put on a proper Rangers performance. They showed what it means to pull on that shirt and some of the summer signings – who were all sat watching from the sidelines – should have realised what is now expected of them at this club.
They have to learn quickly if they want to get into that side.
If I were Gio van Bronckhorst, I’d send out an almost identical starting line-up to get the job done against a strong Hearts side.
Allan McGregor in goal, James Tavernier and Borna Barisic at full-back, Ryan Jack, Steven Davis and John Lundstram in the middle of the pitch, and a front three of Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent.
The only change I’d make would be to pair young Leon King with Connor Goldson in the centre of defence.
There is no room for error here and these are guys the manager knows he can hang his hat on.
So, while he may want to get the likes of Malik Tillman, Antonio Colak or even Ben Davies into his team, these guys are going to have to earn it.
Right now Rangers are in the trenches. They can’t afford to carry passengers in the heat of the battle.
It will be interesting to hear what Gio says today at his
The target for Rangers is clear. They have to win every one of the next nine games in league and cup. No ifs, no buts
pre-match press conference in terms of the fitness of a number of players who appear to have gone AWOL over the past couple of months.
And it will be fascinating to see what he says about the goalkeeping situation, presuming Jon McLaughlin is available for selection again.
But, either way, I will be absolutely shocked if McGregor is not reinstated as his first choice for Tynecastle.
His should be the first name on Gio’s teamsheet.
If I know one thing about my old team-mate, it’s the sheer presence he brings on to the pitch.
He’s not only one of the greatest Rangers keepers of all time – the guy has been a born winner all his life. And age hasn’t taken that away from him.
Put it this way, if I were running out of the tunnel at Tynecastle tomorrow lunchtime, I’d feel a whole lot better if I knew he was at my back.
That’s what Rangers need now more than ever – big characters who will walk through walls to win football matches.
If they walk off the pitch back at the top of the table, even if it’s only for an hour or two, suddenly they’ll have sent a message back along the M8 this fight is only getting started.
And if they win these next eight league games and secure a place in the last four of the League Cup, Celtic will know for sure the gloves are finally off.