New-look Rangers must push Celts to limit, says Brown
FOR all most of us know, Jonatan Johansson could transform into a purplefaced furious Finn to be feared by any footballer who is within boot-hurling distance in the event of a Rangers defeat. However, it’s likely the players responsible for Europa League humiliation in Luxembourg had an easier time of it than if John Brown had beaten Johansson to the job of first-team coach.
Brown was in the frame for a place in Pedro Caixinha’s coaching staff in the spring but his local knowledge remains on tap — in an Ibrox ambassadorial role — for any new Ranger to seek out and grasp.
Realistic domestic goals for this season are hard to define. This time last year they were mistakenly ‘Going For 55’ and won’t be making the blunder of boasting about that aim again.
For many, a Paul le Guen-type pantomime is feared to be more likely than a box-office title battle with Celtic. For a board funding the major outlay, anything less than runners-up and cup finals is a fail.
Brown’s views on where the ambitions of a radically-revamped Rangers squad should be pitched offer some key guidelines as to what is expected from at least nine new first-team faces.
‘Fans won’t accept the way Rangers were walked all over by Celtic,’ said Brown. ‘You shouldn’t go into those games expecting results like 5-1. It’s a case of chipping away in these Old Firm games.
‘They must put up a better fist of things against Celtic. It’s about trying to make it a competition this year. Celtic could have won the league in second gear last season, they didn’t need to raise it.
‘Rangers have to push Celtic to their limits this time. Put them under pressure. To do that, we need to start winning straight away and show everyone there is steel and determination in this squad.
‘Rangers lost 30-odd points to the also-rans behind Celtic and that has got to be addressed. The 39 points was an unacceptable gap to Celtic even though the team was just coming back into the league.’
Investment in Mark Warburton’s signings last summer was meant to at least guarantee that Brown’s former team-mate Derek McInnes and Aberdeen were hurdled on the top-flight return.
Yet the Pittodrie side were nine points better off, their consistency beating a season of managerial change at Ibrox, although honours were even in the head-to-heads.
The flickers of a feud between Caixinha and McInnes added lateseason intrigue to the rivalry, with the Rangers manager’s assertion Aberdeen had reached the end of a cycle properly lighting the fuse.
‘It seems the managers have made sure there will be a bit of niggle in these games,’ said Brown. ‘There’s no doubt Pedro will want to make sure he’s not on the wrong end of results against Aberdeen.
‘Their win at Ibrox in May was a poor one because Rangers were second best that night. Derek is a great lad who’s done a terrific job. Aberdeen have strengthened well.
‘Greg Stewart has a good eye for goal and I always liked Gary Mackay-Steven at Dundee United. He might have lost his way at Celtic but I think he’ll add a lot there.
‘Aberdeen have been consistent in the last few years, managing that with a budget obviously less than Celtic and Rangers.
‘Rangers must bite into the ninepoint gap by winning the games we are expected to win. Every game is a cup final for the other team and
you need to win them.
‘That’s something you have to learn to deal with. When the team is not performing, it takes special players to push the team along by getting a goal or putting in a tackle.’
Since the humbling at the hands of Progres Niederkorn, the appearance of Portuguese veteran Bruno Alves and Graham Dorrans have helped fend off further doomsday forecasts.
Brown was impressed by their efforts in the draw against Marseille last Saturday, identifying Alves as the much-needed difference-maker in a defence that was dubious too often under Warburton.
‘The one thing that Alves stood out doing was organising,’ said Brown. ‘His positional sense was good, he heads the ball a mile and can be dominant in the air.
‘He’ll have tougher games to come when the real stuff kicks off. But if he helps Rangers be known for a strong defence, then it sends a message to other teams.
‘Bruno can pull the other defenders in and make them harder to beat. The 4-4-2 against Marseille was a far better sign, I thought the shape was good and it was harder for them to play through us.’
Alves fits the bill to be the senior statesman in a dressing room featuring a heavy foreign influx from Portugal, Mexico and Colombia to go with the Warburton-era leftovers plus Scots.
Caixinha is keen to add to the homegrown influence, with Jamie Walker of Hearts and, more ambitiously, Aberdeen’s Kenny McLean his main targets to join Dorrans and Ryan Jack at Ibrox.
Brown added: ‘We’ve signed a few players who are going to take time finding their feet. (Eduardo) Herrera looks a big physical player. Once his fitness is there, I can see him causing defenders problems.
‘The players need to be a unit and as one. You can’t have different factions and cliques, you need to be a squad and “all for one”. If they’ve got that, they have half a chance.
‘I do believe that’s something Pedro is trying to put into the squad. It’s a massive season for the club. They have to show there’s been progress with these new signings.
‘And they all must be aware they can make names for themselves and create history at Rangers. The next league title will be 55, the fans are crying out for that.
‘If they can do that it in the next few seasons, they will be heroes.’
Rangers have to bite into the nine-point gap to Aberdeen