We’ve spoken in the past about how Walter Smith compares, but Steven Gerrard’s Mark Warburton similarities also have to be recognised.
Rangers fans may be spitting out their dinner reading that first line, but it’s important Gerrard learns from Warburton’s mistakes.
The new Rangers manager has already achieved more than what Warburton had done in his near-two years at Ibrox. Rangers are in Europe for the first time since 2010, words can’t describe just how impressive that is.
But, with the atmosphere and aura around the club these days, it strikes back to when Warburton was leading the Gers.
At the time of his appointment, we were all impressed with the Englishman’s demeanour. He seemed such a likeable gentleman, and better yet a very capable manager. He came with a terrific reputation from his time at Brentford, and the club seemed in good hands.
An overhaul in the summer of 2015 saw a host of new signings pitch up at Ibrox. Let’s make one thing clear, Gerrard’s summer recruitment looks a lot better than Warburton’s. But, the English manager was responsible for bringing solid talent like James Tavernier and Martyn Waghorn to the club.
It was, in a sense, a new Rangers.
The previous era of Ally McCoist and latterly Stuart McCall was gone. A new man, a new system, and a new era was in place.
The title-romp
Rangers romped to the Championship title in Warburton’s first season – so they should’ve. But there was an impressiveness about how they powered their way to promotion.
The Ibrox club looked substantially better than Hibs, when just a season beforehand they looked a far worse footballing side.
It was a year to remember, with the exception of the Scottish Cup final defeat to Alan Stubbs’ Easter Road men.
After that, it all went downhill. A underwhelming summer recruitment drive seen the likes of Joey Barton, Jordan Rossiter, and Joe Garner pitch up at Ibrox.
A couple of poor showings against Celtic did nothing for the confidence. All of a sudden, the Gers looked a deflated side who struggled for belief against nearly every side in the division.
Embarrassing performance after embarrassing performance was being dished out. It all ended in a ridiculous situation where Warburton resigned whilst the man himself said he didn’t. It was a messy affair that ended with lawyers getting involved.
That won’t happen (hopefully!) under Gerrard. The positivity ringing through the club does feel slightly different to what Warburton generated. It’s perhaps also being shown in the players Rangers are recruiting.
Strengthened summer
The likes of Nikola Katic, Connor Goldson, and Borna Barisic all came in over the summer. Meanwhile, he’s adding huge attraction to the game up north in terms of TV figures.
What Gerrard has to do that Warburton didn’t was learn from his mistakes. The former manager’s infamous 4-3-3 system failed to work on a consistent basis, yet he still tried it. Joe Garner couldn’t score and Rob Kiernan couldn’t defend. That wasn’t enough to stop Warburton from keeping them in the side.
The new man cannot be so naive and allow the positive aura around the club just now fade away so clumsily. Warburton was, in the end, too stubborn for his own good.
Gerrard, on the other hand, appears open to suggestions and is constantly speaking with Gary McAllister on the bench.
Regardless, the new man’s start has breathed fresh life into Ibrox. Warburton did the same, so it’s important that Gerrard continues to build the club piece by piece and doesn’t make the same mistakes an old predecessor did.
