Chris Jack shares ‘no excuse’ Michael Beale silverware verdict as Rangers sack decision made
Michael Beale has “no excuse” not to win the Scottish League Cup at Rangers this season, according to Chris Jack.
Writing on the Rangers Review website on 6 September, the journalist said the Gers boss received an “unexpected bonus” when Celtic were knocked out of the competition by Kilmarnock.
After the Light Blues overcame Championship side Greenock Morton 2-1 at Ibrox, Jack believes there is “no excuse” for the Glasgow club not to lift the trophy under Beale, who has reportedly been backed to keep his job despite the recent results [Daily Record].
“Beale had set three main targets for the first phase of the season,” the journalist said. “Only one of those objectives has been achieved, and even that was far from straightforward after victory over Morton earned a place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
“The day after that win, Beale received his first unexpected bonus of the campaign as Derek McInnes completed a quickfire Old Firm double and Celtic stumbled at the first hurdle.
“The path to the silverware had been cleared for Rangers and there is now no excuse for the trophy not being lifted on December 17.”
Minimum requirement
Jack is right in his assessment that there is absolutely no excuse for Beale to not go on and win the League Cup with Rangers this season – it should really be the minimum requirement.
The biggest question around that being a possibility isn’t due to the competition they could face along the way, but whether or not he will still be in the job come 17 December.
Although he has been backed temporarily by the Gers board, there is nothing to suggest they wouldn’t quickly reverse that decision if he picks up any more damaging defeats.
But in terms of the League Cup, the Light Blues should be expecting to lift the trophy at the end of the year following Celtic’s exit from the competition.
While the SPFL title is already looking tough after recording two defeats in the opening four league matches, a piece of silverware would be very welcome at Ibrox and would prove that Beale could still be a success at the club.
In other Rangers news, a BBC pundit has said what the Gers need to do as a Beale verdict is shared.