Chris Sutton reacts to Rangers fan meltdown this week after Ibrox developments
Chris Sutton has warned Celtic have been warned not to follow Rangers fans’ rush of judgement on their squad this pre-season, saying it would be daft to rush to conclusions ahead of the season opener next week.
The new Sky Sports pundit has called for Celtic not to be made complacent by Rangers’ poor result last time out, or by the fans’ reactions to that form, describing them as “the great unknown” after making so many new signings.
He has, however, claimed the pressure is on for Michael Beale, who will be expected to deliver results after he has been backed so strongly in the transfer market, also admitting that pre-season results don’t mean a thing once the real thing gets going.
Speaking via his column in the Daily Record, Sutton shared: “The big kick-off is just a week away but some Rangers fans are already worried their team has gone from being world beaters to duds in the space of the week. But it would be daft if they jumped to conclusions at this stage – and dangerous for Celtic to think likewise.
“I’m always wary about reading too much into pre-season campaigns. Yet there is no doubt there are still a lot more questions around this Rangers squad Michael Beale has assembled over the summer.
“He [Beale] will admit it himself, the pressure is on after being backed heavily in the transfer market. When you bring in so many new players, there is going to be a period of adjustment, a settling down spell where things don’t happen overnight.”
Sutton went on to write: “They are the great unknown at the moment… We just don’t know about Rangers right now but while we can’t rush to judgement. Rangers also can’t afford to let Celtic get away from them early in the season.”
Patience will be necessary
Rangers fans are right to voice their concerns after a poor start to pre-season, not just in terms of results but also with performances, but it is still important to remember that pre-season is first and foremost a fitness exercise, focusing on preparation more than the final score.
The number of new signings who have arrived at Ibrox will still need time to gel, they need to understand each other’s game and the role their manager wants them to play, while also adapting to their new surroundings.
This can be frustrating, and excuses shouldn’t be made already. The minimum expectation for the coming season is to challenge Celtic for the SPFL title. The club will need to show against Kilmarnock in a week’s time that the pre-season performances are just typical of any pre-season.
Concerns were also raised previously as to how much faith the club have in Beale, given his relative lack of experience in both squad building and management as a whole.
As Sutton said, Rangers are an unknown quantity right now. It’s difficult to call how the new signings will perform, or where they will be when the season kicks off. They will, however, need a good start.
In other Rangers news, Leon Balogun has sent a message to a former Ibrox teammate after transfer news.