Death, taxes and Celtic winning the SPL title. Some things in life are inevitable, and the Hoops’ latest march to the title by another significant margin is living proof that nothing has changed in the past year.
For those who have had just about enough of Celtic, Steven Gerrard’s appointment as Rangers manager ahead of 2018/19 was a potential sign of change. This, after all, was the man who once took Liverpool to a European trophy from an unthinkable deficit, and then captained them to the cusp of the Premier League title.
While Gerrard’s inexperience was an obvious burning issue, his links to a club of global greatness were seen as a massive asset, as was his true never-say-die spirit in the dressing room.
His first summer as a manager also saw an influx of players with Premier League pedigree. Though a high turnover within the playing roster is not always an ideal approach, it is difficult to criticise Gerrard’s methods in the face of what many perceive to be an immovable object in Celtic.
Desperation and pragmatism often go hand-in-hand when trying to do the seemingly impossible, but Gerrard’s influence was also in evidence during Rangers’ successive home wins over Celtic in the season just gone. The first of those represented a derby day success after a seven-year wait. And so, with that particular curse being laid to rest, the focus will now turn to converting draws into wins.
'Sell to Buy' a Likely Approach
Where Rangers are concerned, going win-for-win with Celtic in 2019/20 demands a transfer window like no other. To experience it, Gerrard must take the difficult starting point, and sell before he buys. Valued by some media outlets at £20m, Alfredo Morelos has the potential to be the man that makes the difference. A Newcastle side managed by Gerrard’s former mentor, Rafael Benitez, is currently being metioned as a potential destination for the Colombian.
If the reported value is accurate, then the days of Gerrard relying much on free signings to make a difference will be numbered. While losing an excellent SPL striker can only cause Rangers’ title odds on Sporting Index to lengthen, the signing of Gerrard’s most-desired targets would once more become reality after a frustrating, fragmented pursuit to date. Ryan Kent from Liverpool would be the first priority, with Kent thriving under Gerrard in 2018/19.
Should the permanent signing of Kent prove elusive, there are others from Gerrard’s old club who could still fit in at Ibrox. With Liverpool’s recent European triumph potentially locking out any regular first-team opportunities for the foreseeable future, Rafael Camacho has a lot to offer. The Portuguese youngster already knows Gerrard well, and he is a versatile player who has the ability to dominate the flank against most SPL teams.
A good deal for Morelos would also enable Gerrard to mix the best of the Premier League 2 development league youngsters with more experienced talents from the Championship.
Austrian international Andreas Weimann has also been linked to Ibrox as a target from that league, with the Bristol City winger being a driving force behind his current club’s recent chase for a Championship promotion spot. Weimann’s additional ability to work as a ‘number ten’ also gives Gerrard much justification to pursue his signature.
55 Reasons for Gerrard to Think Fast
Ultimately, Rangers have the look of a project that is up-and-coming, and this creates the sort of huge pull-factor that could at least bridge the divide between the Old Firm. The Ibrox outfit has clawed back the SPL title from Celtic before, and the changes required to repeat history are not as extensive as many believe.
However, Celtic are perennial champions for a reason. They are the team to beat, and have as much of an agenda as Rangers. Just five more league titles without reply will see the Hoops overtake their hated rivals in the title stakes, and truly take the city for their own in every way imaginable.
Where Gerrard is concerned, this summer’s transfer window will be vital to stopping that process. Consistency and drive are key to a successful title challenge and Gerrard will need to take that to a whole new level to stop Celtic in their tracks.