Rangers fans will be hoping that their team can put behind the disappointing defeat at Parkhead with Philippe Clement also hoping to lift some of the pressure on his shoulders.
The manager cut a frustrated figure before and after the Old Firm derby with a squad that still has a couple of gaps despite the late additions of Neysharo Kasanwirjo and Nedim Bajrami.
Clement hinted at possibly looking to utilise the free agent market to sign a number six, however, the Gers boss should look to an academy prospect who needs to be thrown in at the depend.
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Time for Rangers to give Bailey Rice his chance
Bailey Rice skippered the Scotland Under-19 side this week whilst his former Motherwell teammate Lennon Miller was with the Under-21s.
That Miller has seen calls for his name to be added to the senior squad shows just how far he has come under Stuart Kettlewell.
The Steelmen’s boss has put his faith in Miller and he has been rewarded handsomely.
He isn’t just one of the best young midfielders in the country, he is one of the best.
When Rangers signed Rice, he was the jewel of Motherwell’s academy, but two years later, only one of them has kicked on.
Barry Ferguson was thrown in at the deepend by Dick Advocaat when he had barely a handful of appearances for the first-team and he embraced the challenge.
There is no way of knowing if Rice is really capable unless he is given a similar opportunity.
Rice is a natural number six, something Philippe Clement doesn’t have in his squad.
What the managers have thought about Rice
Only last year, Michael Beale was predicting big things for the Rangers number 49:
“I’m telling you we have got a heck of a player in Bailey Rice. He is 16, he is not 17 until the end of the month.
“When I introduce him to this madhouse, and my protection of him is important, but I am telling you he is ready.”
Shortly after Clement took over, he was asked about Rice and his development with the young midfelder seemingly disappearing out of first team contention:
“I don’t like to speak too much about individuals but OK I will speak about Bailey (Rice) because he knows.
“He’s for me a really talented player and I think he has a great future in this club but there are also some points we need to work on which are different academy football and the first team, for sure without ball.
“So that’s a really important step to make and he’s going to make that step. If he makes that step then he’s going to be pushing for positions in the first team.”
Rice has been seen on the bench recently and in pre-season so, the young playmaker has maybe taken the advice on board that Clement has given him.
Soon to turn 18, the next few years are pivotal for Rice.
Rangers is unlike most clubs in that there is no easy path to the first team.
Players either thrive on the pressure or they wilt, technical ability rarely has anything to do with it.
Clement doesn’t have to start Rice evey week, but giving him time off the bench in a strong team would allow the manager to see how far away Rice really is from being the player we all hope he could be.
