David McCarthy claims Michael Beale is ‘clinging to the ropes’ amid Rangers crisis
Michael Beale is “clinging to the ropes” at Rangers and has been “saved by the bell” with the arrival of the international break”, according to journalist David McCarthy.
The Gers were defeated 1-0 by fierce rivals Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox on Sunday (3 September), marking their second Scottish Premiership defeat of the campaign.
It followed on from a miserable 5-1 loss to PSV in the Champions League play-off round, consigning the Gers to a 7-3 aggregate defeat and a spot in the Europa League.
“The notion you are two defeats away from a crisis at either side of the Old Firm is often regarded as a myth by those who don’t live and breathe their football in this crazy town,” McCarthy wrote in the Daily Record (6 September, page 47).
“But I’d bet in Michael Beale’s head right now, the myth feels very much like a reality. He might well have been saved by the bell because the last 180 minutes have left him clinging on to the ropes.
“And had he been forced to take his battered, bruised and confidence-riddled side to Perth tomorrow night (to face St Johnstone), instead of first game up after the break, another defeat might have seen Beale counted out.”
Survival
It seems incredible to suggest that even this early into the season Beale’s future is in the balance, but that seems to be the state of play at Ibrox at this moment in time. After a summer of recruitment, during which plenty of fresh faces were brought to the club, the pressure was on Beale to get his side going.
And so far, he has not managed to do that. It has been a poor start to the campaign, in particular the misfiring form of his newest forward additions. None of the four summer arrivals who were signed to score goals have hit the ground running, and it has had an impact on their side’s results.
They find themselves four points behind Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side, and it already looks like it could be a long way back in the league and if they don’t see an upturn in form soon, Beale’s time in Glasgow could come to an end.
In other Rangers news, contact has already been made as a replacement is eyed at Ibrox.