Barry Ferguson tells Rangers’ wimp midfield to stand up

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Ibrox Noise

·10 May 2024

Barry Ferguson tells Rangers’ wimp midfield to stand up

The big one is finally upon us, and we have to say we couldn’t agree more with Barry Ferguson who urges Rangers’ wimp midfield (which is what it is, let’s face it) to get tough and hurt the likes of Callum McGregor.

Celtic’s captain has had it easy against Rangers for far too long, because our meagre midfield let him bully them into submission – Celtic always win the midfield battle because John Lundstram, for a ‘hard man’, really isn’t when he faces Celtic, and no one else in Rangers’ middle has an iota of balls or guts to actually put their stamp on a match. And Clement refuses to pick Sterling there.

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Certainly not v Celtic.

Now, let’s not mix this up with Todd Cantwell running all over the place and hurling himself stupidly into tackles. That’s not the same thing – that’s just being reckless and naïve.

No, we want a tough, no-nonsense approach of hunting in packs, working like dogs, but being able to put our foot on the ball and dictate the match – basically like McGregor does, like Barry himself used to.

He said:

“He starts the attacks. They’re just little passes but they’re important passes. Rangers need to make sure Callum McGregor is facing back to Joe Hart every time he gets the ball. And if he does turn you, take a foul.”

Snowflake Scotland, especially the green-minded souls, howl in outrage and derision at this, but, Ferguson doubled down:

“I’ve already had some stick this week for saying Rangers need to attack this game from the start and to stop Callum McGregor from dominating the midfield at all costs. I’m certainly not going to apologise for saying it. It’s part and parcel of the game. If I’m playing against my opposite number and he gets past me, I’m not going to stand back and say, ‘Aye, on you go mate – take it for a 30 yard run’. If my midfield partner isn’t close enough to snuff him out, or my defence is too deep, then I’ll make sure my guy ends up with his face in the grass. That’s got nothing to do with ‘dark arts’ and everything to do with how to win football matches.”

Unfortunately that’s exactly what Lunny, Dio, and Jack have done in recent years.

Ferguson is completely correct, and any Rangers winner of the past would agree with him.

Pity we seem to just roll out the red carpet for that lot these days – oh for Clement to actually pick Sterling in there.