It’s been a week or so of contemplation for Rangers but as Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa toil some are in serious danger of forgetting the Liverpool legend’s contribution to life at Ibrox.
This week marked the 10-year anniversary of the club going into administration, kicking off undoubtedly the darkest and most difficult period in our history.
It was painful going over old ground but it offered an opportunity for Rangers fans to reflect on the progress of the last few years.
It also offered demented Sevcoists the chance to howl endlessly into the void.
There was a poetic symmetry too connected to the fact that either side of that Valentine’s Day anniversary was a trip to League Two Annan Athletic – the part-time club beating Rangers in our first season in the lower leagues – and one to the Westfalenstadion to face Borussia Dortmund – this Rangers’ third foray into the latter stages of the Europa League on the bounce.
What transpired was a glorious victory in Germany which was celebrated with an added vigour given the contemplation afforded us in the days running up to the tie.
But the contribution of Steven Gerrard to Rangers achieving this cannot be forgotten and as life at Aston Villa becomes a little rocky, bluenoses who not only fail to realise this but also take satisfaction in it desperately need to give themselves a shake.
Steven Gerrard transformed Rangers’ fortunes before Aston Villa move
Yes, Steven Gerrard left midway through the season – one in which we were stuttering and in need of reinvigoration – but between the day he joined in 2018 and left in 2021 Rangers are a club and team transformed.
The Scouser’s influence on Ibrox is clear from the dressing room (quite literally), to the training ground, and all the way into the playing style.
Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson even admitted the appointment was a “game-changer” this week [Sky Sports].
Between Steven Gerrard and the backroom staff – and admittedly plenty of patience from within Ibrox and the Rangers support – the last three and a half seasons have transformed us from a basket case into the kings of Dortmund.
The segue into Giovanni van Bronckhorst hasn’t been perfect, a tense title race testament to stuttering post-winter break form, but it has breathed some life into a stagnant side.
For all the frustration that surrounded Stevie G’s exit, Rangers haven’t exactly done too bad out of it and there are some who threaten to blow things out of proportion.
Prior to the Anfield legend’s appointment, Rangers were staring down the barrel of an inevitable 10IAR shotgun blast and more rejections from the likes of Derek McInnes.
But whilst Gerrard’s move to Glasgow eventually heralded success, to get there it heralded a much-needed return to the high standards that defines Rangers in the eyes of the club’s support.
It’s then poignant that it’s in Europe where we celebrate the biggest result of the season – and perhaps decade – to date, Steven Gerrard unarguably the driving force that took us from Progres to the expectation of post-Christmas qualifications in a matter of seasons.
Gerrard gave us back the Rangers that we love and expect and whilst his era is over at Ibrox the notion anyone should want him or his team to fail at Aston Villa doesn’t sit right.
We certainly don’t owe him the world, but I loathe to think where Rangers might be had he not taken on a job that so many were eager to avoid.
For that, and 55, the man is a Rangers legend and whilst he might live to regret jumping ship to Birmingham early, no-one should be trying to take it away from him.
Speaking of Borussia Dortmund, Rangers’ Europa League rivals have also suffered a major injury blow heading into the return leg at Ibrox next week.
