Michael Beale manager position and Rangers summer signings assessed
By Scott Mckay
Rangers manager Michael Beale is undergoing a baptism of fire from within the Rangers support after the 1-0 defeat to Celtic last Sunday.
The English manager is under massive pressure from the rangers fanbase as the defeat followed a 5-1 drubbing in Eindhoven at the hands of PSV. The former QPR manager spent in the region of £13 million in the summer transfer window as the Rangers squad underwent major reconstruction.
Rangers Transfer Window
Did Rangers do enough?
My honest answer here would have to be no. The squad has underwent a massive overhaul in the attacking areas of the pitch as it was required. Here we will assess the signings and the impact they have had so far.
Jack Butland
The goalkeeper signed from Crystal Palace in the summer after a loan at Manchester United. The England international comes up to Rangers with a big pedigree. The proven shot stopper has been Rangers best signing so far this season as he has proven himself to be a safe pair of hands. The Rangers support clamoured for a goalkeeper who would command his area from set plays and Butland has eased all our fears. He is a commanding presence and isn’t shy of telling his team mates if he is unhappy at something. The 30 year old wanted first team football and will get that in a plenty playing for Rangers.
Dujon Sterling
The versatile defender signed from Chelsea after becoming a free agent in the summer, he can play either full back position and had a solid season on loan at Stoke in the English Championship last season. We haven’t seen to much in terms of minutes from the full back yet and I struggle to see where he gets game time. Rangers like to play with their full backs contributing to the attack high up the park and the defender has already said he is there to defend first and foremost. The jury is still out on this one for me. Sterling could be of use in the up and coming Europa League campaign If the management feel they have to set out a bit more defensively away from home.
Leon Balogun
The 35 year old Nigerian international could prove to be a useful option for Rangers this summer. The defender has not had the best injury record in recent seasons, but with Beale’s side being well stacked in the centre of defence, he should be able to come in and provide quality cover when required. I would like to see him on the left hand side of a back 3 as I feel Ridvan needs an experienced head next to him talking him through the match so he doesn’t get caught out on an opposition counter attack.
Jose Cifuentes
The Ecuadorian international arrived in Govan with big expectations from the club and fans alike. A powerful box to box centre midfielder is what we expected to see. The midfielder has not been used like this yet as he has played on the right of a midfield 3 since signing and this is an unfamiliar position for the player as he tries to adapt to a new life in Glasgow. He is being asked to cover for Rangers captain James Tavernier when he goes forward but there seems to be a barrier between the two players as they try to build an on pitch relationship. In my opinion the manager is wasting the players talent playing him the current position.
Sam Lammers
The Dutch playmaker has not managed to live up to the hype he earned during pre season. The former Atalanta player doesn’t seem to fit the style of play and was caught out for one of the goals against PSV last Wednesday. He has shown flashes from the bench on recent times but denied himself a goal in the Old Firm match at the weekend when he chose to round Celtic keeper Joe Hart, narrowing the angle for himself instead of just hitting a shot across goal. The player has work to do to work his way back into the starting 11 as well as prove himself to the Rangers support. The 3 million fee Rangers paid for him will be used against Beale if his summer signing doesn’t produce the quality needed in big moments.
Abdullah Sima
We have seen flashes of what the on loan Brighton player can produce, he scored a wonder goal in the 2-2 at Ibrox against PSV but was a no show in the match up until that point. The Senegal forward provides the Rangers attack with some much needed pace but we have yet to see what he can truly offer. A signing Beale wont be overly criticised for as he is on loan from Brighton. He has shown on some sub appearance’s that when given the chance to run down the right flank that he can do this to good effect, its up to the Rangers manager to use the player properly to allow fans to see the best of him.
Danilo
The Brazilian striker was the highest fee Rangers have paid for a player since the signing of former winger Ryan Kent when Rangers paid Liverpool a fee in the region of 7 million. Danilo has not set the heather alight as he has been on the bench for massive games in recent times. We are not going to see the best of the striker unless the manager plays him and shows the player he has confidence in his ability. I believe the former Feyenoord hitman has what it takes to have an impact at Rangers but its down to the manager to find a system to get the player into his team.
Cyriel Dessers
The former Cremonese hitman signed from Italy after his side suffered relegation from Serie A and Michael Beale has shown confidence in the striker by giving him first team opportunities (unlike Danilo). The striker has shown glimpses of what he is capable off but has yet to hit the ground running at Ibrox. He doesn’t work opposition defences hard enough in my opinion ad playing against a low block in the league it is pivotal we start to see some more physicality from the Nigerian international.
Kieran Dowell
The former Norwich man has picked up an injury, but signing on a free transfer it is pretty much a low risk signing from the manager. He scored a cracking goal in the 4-0 drubbing of Livingston last month and if we can keep him fit we will see what he is truly capable off.
How should Beale be judged?
To me his signings have to be at the fore front of the supporters opinion. He is currently not utilising them properly as we don’t seem to have a settled formation and the manager clearly doesn’t know his best 11 as shown in Sundays defeat to Celtic when he started only 3 of his summer signings. Still heavily relying on the old guard who have landed 2 domestic trophies in 10 seasons. The biggest criticism to come from me as a Rangers supporter is that he doesn’t seem to have a winning formula or a brand of football, he likes to change his tactics throughout the game to overcome the opponents gameplan instead of the strength he has at his disposal. At the end of the day we are Rangers and teams should be coming to Ibrox wondering how they are going to keep us out, instead they are watching a slow, dated and predictable brand of football that become even worse on Sunday when we played long balls for most of the first half. He has yet to win a big match against Celtic, we are four points behind after four matches with Celtic dropping points in amongst that.
Stay Or GO?
Quite frankly the start of the season has been disgraceful for a like Rangers and I would like the board to show some guts by making a change now before the season is unredeemable. If he is to stay the next three games are crucial followed by a league cup win in November. The pressure is well and truly on Rangers manager Michael Beale.