‘Verbal venom’ to be aimed at Michael Beale as Hugh Keevins shares Rangers prediction
Michael Beale will feel the “full force” of the Rangers fanbase’s wrath if he does not beat Servette in the second leg of Champions League qualification, according to Hugh Keevins.
The Daily Record journalist claimed (13 August) that he fears what an away loss to the Swiss side would do to Rangers fans if they are knocked out after their 2-1 home victory on Wednesday (9 August).
However, Keevins claims that the Gers fans’ “verbal venom” will feature throughout the season as Beale attempts to navigate an important season at Ibrox.
Writing in the Daily Record, Keevins said: “If last weekend was termed “shocking”, I shudder to think how an away defeat would be described by supporters. There is a particular brand of verbal savagery reserved for Old Firm managers who disappoint their own highly-sensitive fans.
“It’s a kind of oral surgery that takes them apart, limb from limb, for the crime of losing matches and allowing mockery from their rivals. What Beale got after picking the wrong team, using the wrong tactics and getting the wrong result at Rugby Park last weekend, Rodgers will get today in equal measure if he drops a three-point advantage at Dons.
“The full force of fans’ verbal venom is going to be a feature of this season. If Beale doesn’t survive the return leg against Servette in Geneva he will know that to be absolutely true.”
Pressure
Managing Rangers can be one of the toughest jobs in football if it’s not going your way.
Champions League group stage qualification is more than an expectation this season for Rangers fans, but the 2-1 victory in the first leg is a good foundation for a convincing win away in Switzerland on Tuesday (15 August).
While Beale will feel confident that they can make it past the Swiss outfit, the outpour of criticism will be significant if the club fail to get the achievable win.
With a lot of money spent this summer too, Beale will be expected to challenge title-holders Celtic in the league while also having a good run in Europe.
Their 4-0 victory against Livingston in the league on Saturday (12 August) showed fans what the new signings were capable of, with Danilo, Abdallah Sima and Sam Lammers all scoring and putting on quality performances.
However, the big games don’t stop for Rangers and any slip-up will be met with anger and objection, so Beale will have to tread carefully if he wants to avoid any “verbal venom” from the Ibrox faithful.
In other Rangers news, Kris Boyd was wowed by one of the Gers’ new signings’ performance against Livingston.