Michael Beale teases ‘completely different’ Rangers team next season in transfer news
Michael Beale has given an indication of how he sees Rangers next season with a “completely different” verdict on his squad.
The manager already has one eye on the new campaign but he knows all too well that he can’t get too far ahead of himself. Eight games remain in the Scottish Premiership as well as a Scottish Cup that must be retained in order to build on relative momentum so far.
18 wins from 20 games would be lauded anywhere else but second is last in Glasgow. Since taking the reins in November, Beale has recorded 14 wins from 15 league games, two from three in the League Cup and three victories in the Scottish Cup. A draw and a loss against Celtic have been the only negatives in terms of results but that is the fixture that truly matters.
In Saturday’s Old Firm game at Parkhead, Beale will learn something more about his current squad but some of them won’t be involved next season, as featured in the Rangers Review.
“I have to tackle each game as it comes,” he said. “The three games [against Celtic] are going to be different. From no away fans to a 50-50 split at Hampden. That’s going to have a difference on everything.
“The last time we lost in the league was the first week in November. We’re now into April. It’s been a long time, 20 weeks of good form in the league.
“We just need to keep repeating it. I don’t care if we don’t get any praise from outside, I’ve got to see the progress inside.
“I’ll judge us on the next game, but listen I know this group is going to be completely different in 11 games’ time. But I can’t deal with pre-season until this season is done.”
Judgement
Beale knows he needs his players to perform in his third derby game as boss, his first at Celtic Park. His team will face a hostile environment without any away supporters with the same happening at Ibrox in the final meeting of the season.
The result on Saturday will have a bearing on preparations for the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park which only increases the significance of the game.
The former QPR boss is right to point out that it will be a very different challenge to a 50/50 Hampden at the end of the month but that will count for nothing if Rangers are hammered by Celtic at Parkhead, like the last two occasions under the previous manager.
It has been a season of transition already as it comes to a close soon, but with Juan Alegria leaving today, he could be the first of many to be shown the exit door, with more senior faces on the chopping block it seems.
In other news, Wolves and Aston Villa are said to be vying to sign Rangers talisman.