Four words from Michael Beale after Aberdeen that will define his Ibrox future
Rangers boss Michael Beale used four words that will define his future at Ibrox, in a post-match interview with BBC Scotland after the loss to Aberdeen.
“We weren’t good enough” was part of the response and if the Englishman doesn’t show a ruthless streak to address the obvious failings, he too will pay a heavy price.
Looking at the bigger picture, the 2-0 loss at Pittodrie was a dead rubber in a competitive sense, but there’s no such thing as a meaningless game as a Rangers player.
Several players should be striving to prove they deserve another season at Ibrox but all that materialised was further evidence that their time is up.
When the going got tough against a committed Aberdeen side, the usual suspects didn’t want to know. Where was the winning mentality, where was the determination to get back into the game? As has been the case most often with this team, it was nowhere to be seen.
Unfortunately for Beale, five league games remain before he can start with a blank canvas in terms of restoring Rangers as serious title contenders. If that is to happen, there needs to be a clearout of several regulars who have shown that that they don’t possess the quality or the credentials to be winners.
Of those who featured at Pittodrie, Allan McGregor, Borna Barisic, Ben Davies, John Lundstram and Alfredo Morelos need to be sold or moved on.
James Tavernier merits his stay, whilst John Souttar has a chance. Fashion Sakala can be a useful squad option.
Malik Tillman, Todd Cantwell and Nico Raskin should be key players for the new campaign.
The challenges of buying and selling in the summer will be difficult with a need to get it right from whatever budget is made available. Spending well is more important than the amount on the table but of course, quality costs money.
Before that, the immediate issue is the must-win Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic on Sunday.
There can be no wholesale changes due to limited options in the squad so Beale has to lift his players and concoct a plan to get the better of Ange Postecoglou’s side, at the fourth time of asking.
If that proves to be another failed mission, it will reflect badly on the manager as much as the players will largely be responsible for the result, either way.
Many of them won’t see next season but he will and any failure to overcome Celtic toward retaining the Scottish Cup, will increase the pressure even further for next season.
Beale’s Rangers need to be more than good enough and to prove it.
In other Rangers news, Neil McCann has blasted Alfredo Morelos after BBC footage in the loss to Aberdeen.