Michael Beale dubbed ‘classless’ as Rangers manager torn to shreds by journalist
Michael Beale has been dubbed “classless” by journalist Gary Keown (Scottish Mail on Sunday, page 109), saying he has made a few errors since joining Rangers, and that ring little alarm bells.
Beale, who was managing QPR at that time, paid a visit to Ibrox on 29 October to watch the Gers against Aberdeen, and Keown has blasted him by saying it was an “ill-judged” decision.
The timing of Beale’s visit became a major talking point. Giovanni van Bronckhorst was badly struggling at that time and speculations were rife that Beale could replace him.
Beale has done a brilliant job so far and he could win his first trophy on Sunday if the Bears beat Celtic in the Viaplay Cup final at Hampden Park.
However, Koewn points out that branding Aberdeen as the third-best team, or getting involved in a public spat with Chris Sutton are some of the “daft stuff” he has done so far.
“Listen, he was always going to have to win people over in the court of public opinion given that most ignoble end to his time at Queens Park Rangers,” wrote Keown on Scottish Mail on Sunday, page 109.
“Walking out of his first job after four months and 22 games after talking about integrity and loyalty in the wake of turning down Wolves was poor. Turning up at Ibrox for a game against Aberdeen — and meeting with fans in a pub beforehand — when Van Bronckhorst was on his last legs was massively ill-judged and really quite classless. Since then, there have been a number of mis-steps. Nothing major. Just things that ring little alarm bells.
“There’s been daft stuff such as branding Aberdeen the third-best team in the country, when they most clearly aren’t, and claiming that Rangers have won two of the last four trophies, when they most clearly haven’t. Getting involved in a public spat with former Celtic player, pundit and pantomime baddie Chris Sutton.”
Learning ropes
It doesn’t make sense to bring up old issues now, especially when Rangers are progressing well under Beale.
So far, Beale has made an unbeaten start to his managerial career, winning 13 of his last 14 games. With the title race as good as over, this is the best chance for Rangers to win a trophy.
Keown is partially right about some of Beale’s actions, but as long as it doesn’t affect the results on the pitch, it really doesn’t matter.
However, if Rangers start to lose games and drop points, then it is fair to point out that Beale is getting distracted with silly issues like getting involved in a spat with Sutton.
Having said that Beale needs to learn the art of how to handle the press. The Bears boss sounded very amateurish when refused to deny a move for Everton midfielder Tom Davies in the January window and later made a u-turn saying there was no interest in the player at all.
In other Rangers news, the club have pulled of a major transfer coup with a deal already signed for a player who was interesting two English giants