Mcallister says Euro exit allows time to fine-tune
Rangers will emerge as a stronger force in the second half of the season.
Ibrox assistant boss Gary Mcallister is convinced of that, and he maintains there are sound reasons to back up his claim.
There’s no disputing that big strides have been made since Steven Gerrard was installed as manager at the summer.
He took the Light Blues to within one game of the Europa League knockout stage, and has had them on top of the Premiership for the first time in seven years.
Mcallister admits there’s still plenty of work to do, but the price of success has been a lack of time to fine-tune the playing style.
He said: “We’d still like to have that distraction of playing in Europe. But the fact we’re out means we can really focus.
“The thing you have to remember is that a week or so ago, we passed 100 training sessions since we came here. But of that 100, most have been recovery sessions.
“We were in Spain in pre- season, where it was more tactical and about what we were looking for.
“But from the start of European football in July, the training has been guided by sports scientists. Most of the sessions have been about getting ready for the next game.”
Does a less hectic schedule mean the Rangers management duo can really put their stamp on the side?
“Absolutely we can,” said Mcallister.
“You have to remember that in all the recovery sessions we’ve done, you’re working with small pockets of players who haven’t featured.
“Now we’re all together and we’re not in a rush to get to the next game.
“We’ll go over what we did in Spain as a reminder of what we started off trying to do.
“We can be better in possession, we can be more clinical in front of goal, we can do better from set-pieces, we can defend from the front as a team better – we’re continually looking to improve.
“There are different games where we’ll do different things, maybe not press as high against some as we do others. There’s loads of tactical stuff.
“We’ll be using the extra time wisely.” One area Rangers might work on is goalscoring.
Alfredo Morelos has hit the net 17 times this season, but the next biggest contributor of goals is right- back James Tavernier with nine – all bar one of them a penalty.
Steven Gerrard has stated he will be looking for more forward options during the January transfer window.
However, Gary Mcallister believes there’s no reason to be anxious.
He said: “I can feel there are goals there. “You go a couple of games without scoring as many as you think you should, and there’s an urgency about the situation.
“You should be trusting yourself that it’ll happen. I don’t think the goals will be a problem if we keep doing what we’re doing.”
Rangers travel to Perth to face St Johnstone today, entertain Hibs at home on Boxing Day and then host Celtic on Saturday.
Although many supporters dislike the chopping and changing of the line- up, Mcallister feels a regular reshuffle is inevitable.
He said: “We tip our hat to the players. They’ve given us everything.
“We’re halfway through the season and we’ve also had 14 European ties to deal with.
“We have a big squad, and over the next three games we’ll have to utilise that.
“We’ve had to use it well through the whole period.”
Mcallister is a big admirer of St Johnstone’s Tommy Wright, readily admitting he’s possibly the most under-rated manager around.
The Northern Irishman has 15 years of firstteam coaching experience, compared to Steven Gerrard’s six months.
But Mcallister remains confident his former Liverpool team- mate is on course for a glittering career as a boss.
He said: “I’ve been massively impressed by how he’s handled the transition from playing to management.
“But am I surprised? No. Simple. He has the mentality, charisma and personality to deal with being here.”