Rangers announced the of a familiar face on Monday when Michael Beale walked back through the doors at Ibrox, this time tasked with catching Celtic as manager.
Beale’s appointment brings a new hope and expectation that was lost under Giovanni Van Bronckhorst during this campaign.
Although a ball has not been kicked yet its clear that levels and standards will rise as warning shots have already been fired at those who are not all in.
Celtic have been ruthless under manager Ange Postecoglou and have blown their city rivals out of the water on multiple occasions in recent clashes between the pair.
Not only that, the Parkhead side sit nine points clear of their Old Firm rivals in Premiership with one hand already on the Title.
There is no doubt winning the league is a challenge that now looks out of the reach of Rangers and Beale with a major downturn at Celtic needed; something which at present doesn’t look like happening.
Rangers task Beale with halting runaway Celtic train
Momentum is key and Celtic have looked like an unstoppable train at times this season. Van Bronckhorst tried to stop them in their tracks with his pragmatic approach and it worked on a couple of occasions.
But in the long, winding run of a title race, the Dutchman’s style would often derail Rangers and give Celtic the room to plow full steam ahead. Players are best when happy and under Gio there have been suggestions the daily routine had become boring and lethargic day to day.
One thing we know about Rangers’ new manager is that the players love to play under him – the Englishman’s training sessions are popular and the attacking style he utilises is enjoyed by those who get to play in it.
And like in any job if your happy in your work results will improve, something which can help build momentum which at this point is what the rest of this season will be about for Beale.
The former Ibrox assistant is playing catch up and it is the job of Beale to try and chase down and match the pace of the Celtic train rather than stop it in its’ tracks.
The future of Scottish football is bright with two of the highest-rated managers in the United Kingdom driving its juggernauts; inverted full-backs v inverted wingers ought to bring a display of excellence in the season’s biggest fixture and January 2nd is a tantalising prospect.
Time will tell whether the recruitment at Rangers matches the recent standard across the city but Beale has a squad who were in the Europa League Final less than 200 days ago, so all the tools are there for him to succeed.
The new Rangers manager will have to get the best out of the likes of Kent, Kamara and Morelos but more importantly he will have to know where their futures are heading.
Of course many will read this as a glowing review of Rangers’ new manager but he will face the same critics and pressure if he fails to catch and overtake Celtic and that will be deserved and well expected from the new man in the Rangers dugout.
Rangers won’t win the league this season but winning in style and perhaps a cup or two will show signs of a new dawn at Glasgow Rangers and bring optimism of better things to come.
Meanwhile, a long-term reported Rangers target could be set for a move to La Liga.
