Leading man Murty feels ready to shine on centre stage
THE trouble with moving out of the shadows and into the light is the time it often takes for the senses to adjust.
By his own admission, Graeme Murty was not entirely happy in his own skin when first asked to step into the breach as Rangers’ caretaker manager in February. Even when the call came again last month, he admitted to nagging self-doubts persisting.
Three weeks on, though, the eyes have grown more accustomed to the public glare that has never left him. More significantly, the prospect of a third consecutive victory against Hamilton today, a feat that was beyond the reach of Pedro Caixinha, offers reassurance in his methods.
It says much about the regard in which Murty is held by supporters, players and directors alike that a failure of the latter to yet announce the Portuguese’s successor is a matter of annoyance rather than a reason for open revolt.
By common consent, the man who has once again stepped up from his role as Development Team manager is much more than a safe pair of hands. One who, with each passing week and victory, seems a better fit for the role on a longer-term basis.
Two scenarios could yet prolong the time Murty has in the post. Firstly, that none of the preferred candidates on the shortlist are happy with the resources at their disposal. Secondly, that the right man is willing to come — but not until the summer.
Either case might throw up the scenario of the former Reading and Scotland defender being offered the job until the end of the season, but with the proviso that the caretaker tag remains. Some might look upon that as being damned by faint praise. So would he take it?
‘I would agree straight away,’ he stated. ‘If they said to me: “Would you take the team to the end of the season?” I would say yes.
‘But if they say tomorrow: “We’ve got a new guy coming on Monday” then fine. I’m an employee of Rangers Football Club and whatever my role is will be dictated by someone on a much higher pay grade than mine. So I’m relaxed with that.
‘I’ll just go and do as good a job as I can, wherever I am.’
You sense that he’s beginning to believe in himself, though. That with each passing day he feels a little more comfortable in the chair and fancies staying for a while longer. And who can blame him?
Big calls, such as continuing to omit Bruno Alves from the side, have been justified. The easier ones, like restoring Kenny Miller to the side, have also paid dividends.
Successive victories against Hearts and Partick Thistle have certainly provided Murty with a new-found sense of self-assurance.
‘The more I do, the more confident I become that I can do it,’ he said. ‘The more confident I am that I can impact first-team players.
‘The feedback I’ve had from the players has been great. Credit to them, they’ve taken things on really well and pushed forward.
‘The more I do it with those guys and the more feedback I get from them, the more content I am that the stuff I give them is benefiting them. That’s what the job is about. It’s about impacting the players in a positive manner. I think I’ve managed to do that.’
When Murty was asked to step up for a second spell, his phone was besieged by people asking him if he intended reprising the headstand he executed at Dens Park in February.
As amusing as such a gymnastic feat was, it wasn’t the act of a seasoned dugout dweller. His second spell in charge has felt like a far more natural fit.
‘I’ve learned lots more,’ he added. ‘I’ve learned how to deal with international-standard foreign players. I’ve learned to deal with personal relationships that weren’t there. I’m also dealing with a director of football, which is brand new for me.
‘And I’m trying to get over to a completely new group of players some simple ideas that I quite like.
‘I’ve found that the more you strip it back, simplicity and clarity are key, particularly when you might have a language barrier.
‘Players like black and white. They don’t like grey areas, so it’s important to make it as simple and as clear as possible. That’s what I try to do.’
Alfredo Morelos could do with an uncomplicated thought process right now. The Colombian hit the net eight times by mid-September, but has now failed to score in his last eight matches.
In Murty’s view, though, the man known as El Bufalo shouldn’t worry about his current drought.
‘He’s (Morelos) not lacking any support from myself or the squad,’ said Murty. ‘He’s working hard and holding the ball up really well. We possibly need to be better at feeding the ball where he wants it.
‘I’m relaxed about it. You see the work he does in training, you see
him finishing in training. We just need to get him in that position to score more often. He gets his joy from playing and scoring.’
Contrary to speculation on social media, Morelos is in line to feature today but the prospects of Alves returning are less clear.
Having been without the veteran Portuguese for the Hearts game through suspension, Murty kept faith in Ross McCrorie and Danny Wilson for the victory over Thistle. The necessary conversation was an early test of his man-management skills.
‘It could be difficult if Bruno chose to be, but he has been brand new,’ explained Murty.
‘He has been a consummate professional and is easy to deal with. He’s up front, honest and open and he hasn’t been an issue in any way, shape or form.
‘That’s what I expected from a guy of his experience and international class.’
It says much that the prospect of a third straight win today is such a talking point.
Remarkably, not since winning at Hamilton on December 16 last year — the third match in a four-game winning run — has such a sequence been put together. Perhaps wisely, Murty won’t get too excited if such a modest achievement is matched.
‘It’ll be an indication of the boys taking what they’ve done this week into the game,’ he said.
‘If they do that, work through our processes, play at the tempo we want to play at, then the result will take care of itself.
‘We can’t become fixated on three-in-a-row, four-in-a-row or five-in-a-row.
‘We just have to make sure we smash our targets and, if we do that, it will translate into a win.’
Graham Dorrans remains out with an ankle injury sustained in the draw with Kilmarnock which cost Caixinha his job, but Murty expects him to be available sooner rather than later.
‘We had good news,’ he revealed. ‘Graham had a scan and a consultation with a specialist in London. He won’t need any surgery on it, which is great news for everyone.’