Another year, another host of managerial mistakes at Ibrox. To be fair to Steven Gerrard, the Englishman has done well this season at Rangers. He’s helped turn the team into genuine contenders in Scotland again, and that deserves a lot of credit.
However, there’s no way around it, he’s also made a number of mistakes.
It was always going to happen, given that he’s only in his first job, but it’s fair to say that the manager needs to improve considerably over the next few years if he wants to make it at the highest level.
There are a few mistakes that he’s made at Rangers that, heading into next season, he must simply be aware of, because he can’t afford to repeat them.
With that said, here are 2 errors that Gerrard can’t afford to repeat at Rangers…
Transfer Disasters
Steven Gerrard has brought in a few good players, there’s no way around that.
Scott Arfield has been brilliant, whilst Connor Goldson has also done really well. Not to mention, a handful of the other players that he’s brought in have also made an impact.
However, they haven’t been universally successful. Umar Sadiq sticks out as a particularly baffling arrival, whilst while Gareth McAuley has done well at times, his signing continues to raise question marks even today.
Then, of course, there are the arrivals of both Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis. They were brought in with a view to impressing short-term, and if they had, the Gers may well have run Celtic closer in the charge for the title. Neither player, though, has been able to have a quick impact as expected.
All in all, Gerrard has made a few mistakes in the transfer market – and that must improve next season.
Defensive Issues
The defensive problems at Rangers have been a real issue this season, and it’s one thing that has generated a lot of fan frustration.
Whether it’s general inconsistency, a lack of stellar transfers or poor team selection from Gerrard, it’s fair to say that the Rangers defence has been the number one problem at Ibrox this season.
Nikola Katic’s lack of game time, especially earlier in the season, really frustrated fans, and with good reason. He played well whenever he featured, yet he has spent so much of the season on the bench.
With a stellar midfield and players like Alfredo Morelos leading the line, Rangers always have a chance moving forward. Gerrard, however, can’t afford not to sort out his team’s defence. Next season, he needs to find his players and stick with them.
