These days, many managers arrive at club – as Philippe Clement did when appointed by Rangers back in October 2023 – speaking about their ‘philosophy’.
An underlying style of play, a tactical principle, which has become part of their personal brand as a coach. A way of dealing with the squad, the media, and the fanbase.
Clement, following his arrival and the dismissal of Mick Beale a year-and-a-half ago, spoke of his attraction to the ‘long-term project’ on offer at Ibrox. The ‘potential’ of a club with only one league title in a decade, and a ‘dominant style of football’ geared towards ‘creating chances, creating spaces for ourselves, and with a lot of changing of the positions of the players’.
Flash forward 16 months, and it’s fair to say the Rangers support were will waiting to see Clement’s so-called ‘style of play’ in action. The 2-0 home defeat by St Mirren which got him the sack was simply more of the same. Turgid, stodgy, lacking in intensity, creativity or inspiration.
In stark contrast, following his appointment as interim head coach, Barry Ferguson opted not to get bogged down in the tactical side of things. Rangers fans can expect to see an ‘aggressive’, ‘attack-minded’ team against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park but that was as detailed as he went.
There was no talk about formations, about interchanging positions, about data or ‘XG’.
Instead, Ferguson kept his message simple. Rangers, first and foremost, need to win. Anything else after that is a bonus.
“There are going to be a number of challenges but what I have been brought in to do is win games of football as quickly as possible,” Ferguson said in his typically bullish fashion. “And that needs to start tomorrow night at Rugby Park.”
Ferguson watched from the stands as Rangers were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by second-tier Queen’s Park. Thirteen points adrift of runaway leaders Celtic, this season is destined to end without domestic silverware.
Ferguson is not going to allow a lack of prizes to excuse a lack of motivation, however. There is still a whole lot of pride to play off. Furthermore, with the San Fransisco 49ers entering advanced takeover talks ahead of what could be a busy summer, there are also a handful of Rangers players suddenly playing for their futures.
“We have got eleven league [games] to go. We are still in the Europa League. We have to try and be positive and make sure we win every single game,” Ferguson adds. “That’s a big ask, I know that, but I’m positive. I need a bit of positivity about the place. This needs to be a different Rangers team that turns up.
“My main objective is to start winning games on a consistent basis. So one game at a time, and that’s what I’m at tomorrow. I’m fully focused on Kilmarnock.
“Listen, this club’s built on winning trophies and it’s not won enough over the years. That’s clear for everybody to see. So we’re still in one trophy, the Europa League. But domestically, we need to have a level of consistency.
“That’s where it starts, and we need to start winning games of football on a regular basis. And that’s your focus.”
Barry Ferguson praised the work of Derek McInnes at Kilmarnock in his pre-match presser. Rangers lost 1-0 at Rugby Park on their last visit to Ayrshire in October, though they did exact brutal revenge with a 6-0 hammering a few weeks later.
