A JUMP START!
Gerrard’s reign gets off to a real flier as his new-look Rangers blitz Bury before a bumper crowd at Ibrox
AFIRST chant of his name began to echo out in the 36th minute, just after Rangers’ third goal was knocked in. It was the sound of the Steven Gerrard era getting underway at Ibrox.
This was only the preview night, of course. The new manager’s first competitive test — FK Shkupi of Macedonia — is still five days away.
Rarely, though, can this storied stadium have felt quite so energised by a pre-season friendly. Especially one in which the opposition were drawn from the glamour-free environs of England’s League Two.
The crackle of anticipation was audible. Sixty-three days had passed since Gerrard’s unveiling, allowing expectation among the Rangers support to build and build. Here was the first chance of a release.
Never mind Belgium v Brazil when Bury are in town. For more than 41,015 fans, the eagerness to catch an initial glimpse of Gerrard’s revamped team outstripped any desire to watch the planet’s finest on television.
The extraordinary numbers tell their own story about the depth of hope now invested in the former Liverpool and England captain.
How much of that is realised will only become clear in the months or years ahead. No-one will make bold predictions based on this first impression, as positive as it was.
Six of Gerrard’s seven new additions featured from the start.
Only Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria — who began pre-season training a few days later than his colleagues — was absent.
The starting line-up may well not differ much from that which faces Shkupi on Thursday night.
First goals for Jamie Murphy — as a permanent signing following last season’s loan from Brighton — Nikola Katic and Scott Arfield, who ended with a double, underscored the sense of a fresh start.
Each was lapped up by a crowd bathed in sunshine. As it was, Allan McGregor would have been as well working on his tan so little was he deployed.
In front of the returning goalkeeper, the team was set up in a 4-3-3 formation, showing signs of the high-pressing, high-energy style Gerrard demands.
‘Aggressive,’ has been a word used more than once.
Connor Goldson and Katic should have enough of that quality as a centre-back pairing.
The former — a £3million buy from Brighton — looked particularly dominating physically and showed composure in possession.
James Tavernier retained the right-back role and the captain’s armband, suggesting he may well be Gerrard’s choice of leader going forward.
The left side of defence was occupied by newcomer Jon Flanagan, a former Liverpool team-mate of Gerrard. Solid in the challenge, he didn’t take long to flatten an opponent with one all-encompassing slide.
Ross McCrorie anchored midfield behind Arfield and Daniel Candeias, shifted infield from his previous slot on the wing.
Signed from Burnley after his contract expired, Arfield’s goals added to the impression of an experienced player who should feel comfortable in this environment.
Murphy and Josh Windass flanked Alfredo Morelos up front.
Gerrard watched their efforts from the edge of his technical area. Clad in black trainers, tracksuit trousers and a hooded top, he offered little bursts of applause to the passages of play that pleased him, patterns he will seek to hone in the four weeks until the Premiership season begins.
Even so, this was very much his introductory bow. Preparations for it had been fruitful. And not just inside the newly rechristened Hummel Training Centre.
The merchandisers had also been at work. Stalls along Edmiston Drive were draped with scarves bearing Gerrard’s name and flags carrying his image. Clearly, the financial benefits generated by the 38-year-old’s presence will extend well beyond ticket sales.
The official match programme was similarly centred on the new manager.
A cartoon image of a smiling Gerrard set in front of a Rangers badge and Union flag occupied a front cover which greeted ‘The beginning of a new chapter’.
While that is undoubtedly the case, an interview inside also drew a comparison with the past.
Walter Smith, that most iconic of Ibrox bosses, admitted the excitement generated by Gerrard’s appointment reminded him of when Graeme Souness swept into town in 1986.
‘Never mind the Liverpool connection, Steven has had a really high-profile career, a winning career. He is a player who has gained the admiration of everybody,’ said Smith. ‘He looks as though he
can transfer that into his management and I hope he will do that at Rangers, as Graeme did 32 years ago.’ Certainly, Gerrard’s charges were on the front foot as soon the first whistle of this new tenure was sounded. Murphy opened the scoring after seven minutes, sweeping home a loose ball after Morelos had been blocked.
Katic was then a beneficiary of a goalkeeper error. His low, angled drive from distance shouldn’t have troubled Bury’s Matthew Hudson, but it squirmed into the net.
Arfield then rattled home for a 3-0 half-time lead. He struck again after the break, converting a cross from young substitute winger Glenn Middleton.
Morelos joined the scoring act by heading home from a Windass cross before Middleton set up another youngster, Zak Rudden, to strike the final blow on a beleaguered Bury defence.
RANGERS (4-3-3): McGregor (R McCrorie 78); Tavernier (Hodson 72), Goldson (Bradley 78), Katic, Flanagan (John 46); Candeias (Halliday 63), R McCrorie (Jack 63), Arfield (Docherty 68); Windass (Atakayi 72), Morelos (Rudden 72), Murphy (Middleton 63). Sub not used: Kelly.