Rangers: BBC’s Tom English mocks Michael Beale Arsene Wenger comparison as Barry Robson comes out on top for Aberdeen
Neil Banfield comparing Rangers manager Michael Beale to Arsene Wenger has drawn a sarcastic response after defeat at Aberdeen from Tom English.
The BBC Sport writer attributed quotes to the Ibrox number two talking up his manager as similar to his former Gunners boss, as well as the likes of Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel, in the build up to Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Pittodrie (23 April).
The defeat, stretching Celtic’s lead at the top of the SPFL to 13 points, has led to English suggesting that less talk should be coming from the Light Blues staff in the circumstances, amid an unfavourable assessment of Beale’s trophy haul as a number one.
In his BBC Sport report English wrote: “This was a reality check for Rangers, a check on their progress and, perhaps, a lesson to talk less and deliver more. His assistant, Neil Banfield, said some things in the Sunday papers that reminded one of the perils of ‘bigging’ things up.
“You can see where he (Beale) is going,” he said of his manager. “You talk about Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino. Micky Beale is not far off that. He reminds me very much of Arsene Wenger.”
“If Beale, with no trophies in his brief time in football management, is not far off serial trophy winners in some of the biggest leagues in the world then Robson must be Pep Guardiola in waiting.
“Loose talking did not cost Rangers. Loose finishing did. A rock-solid Aberdeen team did. A team transformed did. [Liam] Scales and his outstanding side did.”
Running before you can walk
Of course Gers staff should be aiming for the top at all times, but sometimes it is best if certain thoughts are kept to yourself.
Even if Beale were riding high at the top of the table in pursuit of his third consecutive title it would be asking for trouble to start reeling off names like that, but when he has yet to even win an Old Firm derby it is needless.
It inevitably invites ridicule from people who are less than impressed by the way things are run at Ibrox, and after Beale built up the Viaplay Cup final only for his players to deliver a disappointing squib of a performance you’d think the lesson was learnt.
Many would prefer the talking to be done on the pitch either way, but at the very least the Rangers boss and his staff need to stop giving opponents, pundits, and the like needless ammunition until they’ve built up a body of work that has earned them the right.
With the Hampden clash against Celtic on the horizon at the weekend (30 April) a poor result there will see Beale and Rangers finish the season empty-handed.
Granted he has taken over midseason with an aging squad filled with players who are expected to leave, but shooting yourselves in the foot with overconfidence before any battles have really been won is an easy problem to avoid.
Scott Arfield bailed the Light Blues out of defeat at Pittodrie on 20 December, but there was no reprieve on this visit, so there is far more important work to do behind the scenes than making grand statements.
In other Rangers news, the Ibrox “recruitment drive” is under way amid a scouting mission for an international defender.