A big struggle to see title-winning progress at Ibrox
Frederick Douglass, a leader of the campaign to abolish slavery in America, famously said: “If there’s no struggle, there’s no progress.”
And that phrase is spot on when it comes to the current state of Rangers.
Basically, only gauge where you are after giving careful consideration to the genuine test being passed and the size of the achievement.
A mark of quality can only be stamped when the class of opponent is beyond question which has been far from the case during a campaign still very much in its infancy.
After Europa League wins against Shkupi, Osi jek and Maribor, as well as Premiership competence a ga inst St Mirren and Aberdeen, expectation levels have been cranked up, a title fight with Celtic is now a given.
A mood change in a matter of weeks is always a worry.
It seems like an eternity ago that Danny McGrain unfurled Celtic’s seventh successive title flag. Only in Scottish football can Brendan Rodgers now be a figure for ridicule and f inger - poi nt ing for perceived failings and Rangers boss Steven Gerrard hailed as a messiah before a ball has barely been kicked.
The Light Blues fans are allowed a moment or two to believe a corner has been turned. This is a club who’ve turned self- destructing into an art form and the road back has been one of false starts and empty promises. It ’ s the language which Gerard is using which could be putting the cart before the horse. Talking of “keeping heroes” after wins over the mediocre is premature in the extreme.
Undoubtedly the spirit in his squad has been transformed and the spine of his side has been dramatically improved.
That’s the good news – but here comes the reality biter.
Now Eu r o p e ’ s makeweights have been despatched, the real tests are arriving and there’s also the matter of Celtic.
Despite all of the recent talk of reclaiming the title, it still holds true in this quarter that only a couple of current Gers “heroes” would get a sniff of being handed a starting slot wit h the champions and that remains a generous assessment.
This isn’t the time for Gerrard or Rangers to get ahead of themselves. The trouble with overstating their belief of better days is that they should know they’ve been here before and then comes the inevitable implosion.
Celtic’s dominance has been untroubled for years, yet in the space of a few weeks the tide has turned and there’s a perception with some that a change of the guard is imminent. But where is the evidence?
Rangers should tread with a touch more caution because they haven’t done anything yet.