Rangers fans might not have enjoyed the football on display in the domestic season although there is a slither of light at the end of the tunnel.
The appointment of Barry Ferguson as Rangers manager has at least given fans someone who understands the demands of the club and what the expectations are of the Ibrox faithful.
It’s one thing to say you understand, but it is another entirely to actually get it.
Too many of the players don’t seem to get it and the 11 Rangers players on international duty will have enjoyed the change of scenery.
In particular, Hamza Igamane who made his Morocco debut and new Belgium favourite Nicolas Raskin who Kenny Miller had a prediction for shortly after the midfielder joined Rangers.
When Kenny Miller predicted Rangers exit for Nicolas Raskin
With Michael Beale in charge, the signings of Raskin and Todd Cantwell suggested that Steven Gerrard’s former assistant knew what was needed to succeed in Scotland – pace, ability on the ball and aggression.
That the summer transfer window of 2023 wasn’t more of the same remains a mystery.
Miller though, was impressed with what he saw from Raskin and tipped him for the top:
“Supporters won’t want to hear this but they might need to enjoy him while they can. Because in a few years, a club from one of Europe’s big five leagues might come and take him. Unfortunately for Rangers and Celtic, that’s the reality now,” Miller told The Daily Record.
“The recruitment model has to be finding players like Raskin, who are young and relatively cheap, and develop them. He’s been a top signing for Beale already – and he’s only going to improve this season.”
For whatever reason, Beale went against the midfield three that had worked so well at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Raskin, Cantwell and John Lundstram were well balanced, but Beale tried to shoehorn Kieran Dowell in, as well as Jose Cifuentes, who the ex-Gers boss said would take Rangers to “another level”.
Can Raskin achieve dream Premier League move?
They might not admit it now, but there were plenty of Rangers fans writing the 24-year old off.
Some thought he was injury prone, others thought he simply wasn’t good enough.
Even Philippe Clement dropped Raskin against Celtic despite his compatriot being fully fit, he wasn’t even on the bench.
A far cry from Raskin’s recent dominance at Parkhead and his status as the first name on the team sheet.
Miller is right, Raskin dreams of the Premier League, and his debut for Belgium suggests that this is only a matter of time.
