Not a Rangers team Barry? We already knew that | OneFootball

Barry Ferguson, the interim manager of Rangers FC, recently made some sharp comments about his players. If you’re not up to date with Scottish football’s latest developments, you might be missing out on some substantial intrigue. Ferguson hasn’t minced words when it comes to his squad’s performance. And really, who could blame him? The team has been performing abysmally, and one wonders if they can even find their way to goal. Ferguson has taken on the task of guiding them and seems to be saying, with every public statement, “Tread this path, and if you don’t, I’ll lead you there myself.”

In his post-match tirade, Ferguson lambasted the team for its start to the game against Hibs (Canavan, 2025). He pointed out that the team was already 2-0 down within 14 minutes of the match! Wow! That part was pretty clear and direct from the interim manager. He even suggested that the players might be deaf as he questioned whether they were listening to him at all during the game. And, for those who enjoy a particularly vivid image, he likened the situation to the childhood game of Simon Says. It’s almost as if he felt that he was figuratively leading a largely sleeping group of players.

Here’s a twist: Ferguson actually had a few nice things to say about some players. Take Cyriel Dessers, for example, who’s been leading the line up front. Ferguson highlighted his work ethic but did hint that the player’s positional sense could do with a bit of a makeover (English, 2025). Yet, for all the slating of some players for their less-than-stellar performances or occasionally bewildering decisions, Ferguson did manage to find a few for whom he had not just criticisms but the sort of constructive criticisms that help make a player better (as long as the player is actually listening).

With Ferguson at the helm, some positives are found during the week. It’s not all doom and gloom. There are some players showing promise, and even some results could have been different were it not for a few questionable decisions by referees. Clearly, the situation is complex. And the search for answers has led to some rather dour performances, especially at home. This has caused a good deal of concern among the fans. When your home venue starts feeling like a place where ghosts reside rather than a beacon for victorious events, something is amiss. The “home truths” Ferguson mentioned are perhaps just part of the necessary and honest conversation that has to happen when things are going this badly.

To wrap it up, Barry Ferguson is doing what a competent manager should: ensuring his players are responsible while endeavoring to guide the team back to success. His methods could be seen as a bit draconian, with love and a metaphorical slap used in equal measure. And while the inhabitants of the Ibrox are finding reasons enough to have a go at their team, amid all this chaos and critique (and sarcasm), they know one thing for sure: this proud old club is not going to slip silently into the ether any time soon.