Rangers coach Alex Rae knows what it takes to play and win in the blood and thunder of the Ibrox midfield.
The Gers’ legacy has been built on the back of midfield players who’ve brought the perfect mixture of bite, dynamism and technical quality to the middle of the pitch at Ibrox.
But whilst Alex Rae is no Rangers great in this regard, the midfielder was a functional and successful option as he helped the club win the Scottish Premiership title on Helicopter Sunday back in 2005.
Now back at Ibrox as one of Philippe Clement’s coaching staff, Rae has revealed he’s been putting an arm around one of the club’s new signings as the youngster gets used to the rigours of life at Rangers.
But on closer inspection, Alex Rae’s comments appear to confirm that the club believe they have already signed a replacement for the outgoing John Lundstram.
Alex Rae makes Barron Lundstram claim
Rangers held off substantial competition from around Europe and down south to sign Connor Barron from Aberdeen this summer.
The Dons support has been left a little upset at Barron’s decision, with the ex-Pittodrie midfielder now set to pitch up against his former side next season.
Rangers could still be hauled up in front of a tribunal over the transfer, with outspoken Dons chief Alan Burrows declaring transfer war over any Connor Barron compensation.
But in the meantime the kid has been thrust into the Rangers limelight and has some big boots to fill after the likes of Ryan Jack and John Lundstram left Ibrox in the summer.
Alex Rae has been speaking about Connor Barron following the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United where the ex-Aberdeen star’s fledging partnership with Mohamed Diomande was a rare positive.
Tempering expectations around Barron as Rangers try to fill the midfield void, Rae claims he’s working closely with the kid to build on his ‘faults and flaws’.
But at the same time, Rae appeared to confirm that Barron is expected to fill the ‘big boots’ of John Lundstram heading into next season.
“Listen, it’s a big step for (Connor Barron), you know, because he’s obviously filling big boots as well,” Rae told the press after the match at Murrayfield.
“Lundstram has been at a good level at this club for a long time. I am spending time with him one-to-one as well. He has got a lot to learn in terms of learning the game.
“It’s similar to myself at that age, you know, had faults and flaws and things, but his endeavour, his application and his willingness to learn is evident because he spends a lot of time on the training pitch and off if trying to make it better.”
Has Rangers squad begun to regress?
Whilst there is some positivity around Connor Barron, these comments will serve as a double-edged sword to Rangers fans.
It’s good to see Alex Rae imparting the wisdom which made him a Premier League player on Barron, but the suggestion Connor has been signed to replace Lundstram points to further regression in the squad.
John Lundstram’s 52 games last season was always going to be a tall order to replace, but fans might’ve expected Barron to supplement the loss of Ryan Jack.
A more senior, experience pro was expected to replace the Scouser instead.
The paradoxical suggestion that Barron still has a lot to learn but also that he’s replacing a senior player should probably send alarm bells ringing.
Rangers is not a nice place to play your football when things aren’t going well and if Philippe Clement and Alex Rae are about to heap the pressure of Lundstram’s role onto Barron it could be the making, or breaking, of the midfielder.
It certainly had one heck of an impact on Big Bad John.
Rangers fans are still expecting more experience to be added to the squad in the transfer window but midfield is proving a challenging area to improve.
Norwich City star Kenny McLean has just ruled out a move to Rangers whilst the club’s purse strings are not yet loose enough to see Sevilla play ball over Joan Jordan.
