Rangers new signings scratch heads over what fans at Ibrox have done – Barry Ferguson
Barry Ferguson believes some new Rangers recruits will be confused by fans’ frustration after pre-season defeats.
During preparations for the new season so far the Gers have lost to both Olympiacos and Newcastle at the Ibrox, defeating German side Hamburger in their other home match while winning on the road against Hallescher.
And Ferguson believes the new recruits are very quickly learning what it is like and the pressure they are under when playing in front of the club’s home supporters.
“Welcome to Rangers boys. You’ll never have experienced expectations and pressure like this at any other club. You probably never will again,” Fergusin wrote in the Daily Record (28 July).
“I saw it for myself with a whole string of new arrivals who cost a right few bob and came from some huge clubs but who couldn’t get their head around why people were growling all around if the team hadn’t hit the ground running from kick-off.”
Learning curve
It hasn’t been the most positive of pre-seasons for the Light Blues, although they have had some tricky fixtures and it is not fair to judge their new signings just yet.
As Ferguson remarks, many of the new players will be used to pre-seasons which are all about getting up to match fitness where there is very little pressure. However, at their new club, this is not the case.
When stepping onto the pitch at the Ibrox you are always expected to give 110 per cent, friendly or not, and some of the club’s summer arrivals will have found this out the hard way.
Despite the struggles, now is not the time to decide whether these new players will be a success or failure. Once they have become accustomed to their new surroundings and the competitive season has begun, it will be clear who is up for the task of meeting the expectations of their passionate supporters, and who can’t handle the Ibrox pressure.
In other Rangers news, an official club partner has reacted to their pre-season defeat against Olympiacos.