Former Rangers striker and manager Ally McCoist claims that Steven Gerrard’s team still doesn’t have enough in them to challenge for the title this season and he believes that the team still lacks the quality to put up a sustained pressure on their rivals. Gerrard made as many as 15 signings in the summer, but the club has failed to gather momentum on a continual basis. Instead, the Gers have been guilty of being inconsistent especially away from home and it’s clear that the current side still needs some work especially after seeing Celtic blow apart their opponents in the last few games.
McCoist was quoted as saying, ”The European performances have been very good, some excellent. Domestically, which arguably is more important at this particular time, the home form has been very good.
But they lost four points in the last couple of minutes at Aberdeen – where they probably should have held on – and Motherwell, who probably deserved something from the game. The away form hasn’t been as solid as the home form, but there has been a marked improvement in the level of performance, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”
As McCoist mentions, Rangers’ away form still leaves a lot to be desired. They have taken the monkey off the back by winning a few away games, but the wins were laboured ones where they should have blown apart teams of such quality.
There is a definite lack of cutting edge in this side and often the Gers find it hard to break down teams who defend in numbers. One thing for sure is that Gerrard has given this current side organisation and belief among the group of players but maybe the manager still needs to go in the January transfer window to bring in more quality.
Gerrard too indicated that they would need a bit of quality in the final third if the current crop of players aren’t able to produce the goods. Celtic are a well-oiled machine working under the same manager for the third year now, and they have won the last seven domestic league titles. It would be too much to ask from Gerrard and his new team to break that monopoly in the first year itself, and we feel McCoist is right in claiming that the Gers look unlikely to continue the sustained pressure to challenge for the title.
The Gers fans shouldn’t expect a miracle in the first season itself and they should enjoy the ride for the time being as Rangers are seemingly getting back to their former best, and it is clear that the new manager has brought in a sense of optimism and belief around the club.
