It has gotten to the point where a loss to Rangers would be an embarrassment for St Mirren.
The Ibrox team bus is the least attractive journey on the Scottish football map. Not the route from Govan to Paisley, but the route that takes players from bad to worse. Rangers lost at home to Aberdeen last weekend, leaving only disappointed supporters in the stadium. They lost to a third-placed team in Limassol in the Europa League on Thursday and produced a Pedro Kessinha moment in Luxembourg, which I said here last week was a no-go. The threat of neglect.
This afternoon, Rangers face one of only two teams to remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season – the other being Celtic. The interim management team of Steve Davis and Alex Rae came alive for this. If Celtic lose more ground in the title race, they won’t be able to escape the wrath of a fan base on the verge of revolution. The idea of an uprising came to me when a broadcaster called to say that Ibrox captain James Tavernier should “get back in his Lamborghini” and drive back to England. I don’t know if this was Tavernier’s chosen mode of transportation, but I’ve heard it was. When results are poor and supporters are dissatisfied with players’ earnings, while also referencing their material wealth, it’s a reliable barometer of unrest.
When they drafted a captain with an astonishing record of goals and assists, it was clear that the scattergun had been pulled off the wall. Last Sunday, the newspaper had a photo on its back cover that vividly illustrated how bad things had become. It was full time after Don’s defeat and Tavernier was walking away while being brutally abused by those who stayed to vent their anger.
The angry people don’t come from a hoodie-wearing teenage fan base. These middle-aged men were pushed to their limits and broke down in public. They will be the ones to judge the next managerial choices made by the Ibrox hierarchy. Good luck to whoever inherits the job, but the points gap will likely worsen before he gets there. The borderless competition in Glasgow is about mutual loathing and I wonder if the speculative contenders for the job fully understand it all.
Michael Beal effectively retired after losing to the Celtics on September 3 at Ibrox Arena. He’s very self-aware, he just doesn’t know that’s the case. But his card was certainly flagged last season when Bill instructed his players to let Partick run through his side unopposed and score an equalizer in a Scottish Cup tie against Ibrox. Michael defended sporting integrity after Malik Tillman compromised the spirit of the law regarding the opposition regaining the ball. This managerial gesture was immediately interpreted as a sign of weakness.
When his predecessor Gio van Bronckhorst was pictured having morning coffee with Angie Postecoglou, it was seen as a sign of bromance with the enemy. The new Rangers manager needs to realize that there can be no room for mental vulnerability or reconciliation with others under any circumstances.
There is no time to waste, no forgiveness, and failure will not be forgiven. The only problem is that with this annoying situation, there will be some first-time players who will feel uneasy in the chaos. Cyprus offers a glimpse into people struggling to cope with growing pressures. When the game kicks off at noon in Paisley, we will certainly be able to tell the difference between those who are traumatized and those who are inspired.