Pedro Caixinha certainly knew what he was getting into when he gave his consent to be the gaffer of a trouble-stricken side like Rangers. The team might not have been in tatters when Mark Warburton left the Ibrox Stadium under mysterious circumstances but then, they were and still are miles behind their arch rivals, Celtic, in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
With 50 points from 29 outings in the Scottish top flight, a likely third place finish isn’t how the Gers would have wanted their season to transpire.
Caixinha would be looking for a massive overhaul of his squad once the curtains of the summer transfer window gets lifted. However, it is important that the Portuguese looks into what he already has on his books and hand contract extensions to the ones who have been the consistent servants of the Glasgow-based giants this campaign, including Clint Hill.
The veteran centre-back has been backed by Harry Redknapp lately which definitely should bolster his chances of staying beyond this season. But a word on the same from Caixinha stays due.
The Old Firm derby is still one of the most intriguing and fiercest encounters known to the human race with respect to the game of football. In its latest edition, when the fraternity expected Celtic to bulldoze past the Light Blues, it was Clint’s equaliser in the dying minutes of the game which saved the blushes of the Rangers faithful.
The 38-year-old has been nothing short of a cult hero ever since his move to Rangers in the summer, standing firm, tall and resilient to almost everything that has been thrown at him. Isn’t it high time for the former Al Gharafa boss to finally give a pat on the back of the old guardian?
Whilst Warburton was in charge of the steering wheel, talks had started to take place to keep Hill beyond the ongoing season, which has obviously been paused after his departure. Make no mistake, Hill is still an exceptional player whose leadership qualities are simply unparalleled despite being on the wrong side of the thirties.
His knowledge, experience and technical edge should be considered and so should be his appetite of plying his trade at the top level week in and week out. The factor of group cohesiveness shall play an instrumental role in Caixinha aspirations of giving a new shape to the Teddy Bears and a shrewd act of taking care of the ongoing conundrum with respect to Hill should be dealt with at the earliest.
