RANGERS CONFIDENTIAL: Why a former Ibrox star believes many fans would NOT want Steven Gerrard back… plus, the little-known record continuing to haunt James Tavernier

Those that pooh-poohed Ally McCoist’s latest suggestion that Steven Gerrard might return to Rangers someday can have had trigger to assume once more after final Sunday’s Scottish Cup horror present put Philippe Clement again within the doghouse.

In line with one former Ibrox star, nevertheless, the prospect of the Liverpool legend coming again to Govan for a second spell could be as unpopular with a bit of the Rangers assist as Brendan Rodger’s preliminary return to Parkhead was with a major variety of the Celtic trustworthy.

Not just because the style of Gerrard’s departure to Aston Villa nonetheless rankles with many followers – simply as Rodgers’ exit to Leicester did with their Hoops counterparts – however as a result of he’s hardly set the heather on hearth as a supervisor since strolling out on the Mild Blue legions in November 2011.

Former Rangers defender Danny Wilson, who had two spells at Ibrox and now performs along with his hometown staff Livingston, says Gerrard’s dismal document at Villa after which Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia wouldn’t precisely make followers fall over themselves to forgive and neglect.

‘I feel possibly there’s a gaggle [of fans] that may need him again, however I feel there’s a group as properly that, due to the circumstances by which he left, they wouldn’t need him again,’ the 33-year-old centre half advised Open Aim.

‘Brendan Rodgers has clearly gone again and gained numerous them over. However there’s all the time that minority who will maintain it in opposition to him (leaving for Leicester), and I feel Gerrard could be in the identical boat if he was to return.

Steven Gerrard suffers on the sidelines throughout his spell as boss of Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia

Gerrard was the toast of Ibrox after he led Rangers to the Premiership title in 2021

Former Rangers participant Danny Wilson believes many followers wouldn’t welcome Gerrard again

‘If he’s coming in from being on a great run, there’s possibly that extra acceptance. However he’s not gone away and finished nice, so individuals will in all probability be pondering; “Let’s go and do one thing fully totally different”.’

McCoist had a a lot totally different tackle the scenario, telling talkSPORT BET: ‘It wouldn’t shock me if Steven Gerrard got here again to Ibrox.

‘He’s clearly held in actually excessive regard by the supporters due to the league title he gained, and his subsequent job goes to be vitally vital for him.

‘Issues haven’t gone based on plan for him after he left Rangers. A bit bit like Frank Lampard going to Coventry – his subsequent appointment was actually vital to him as properly, so we’ll see what Steven finally ends up selecting to do along with his profession.’

This wasn’t the primary time Tavernier has paid the penalty in Scottish Cup

James Tavernier’s numbers are vastly spectacular, particularly for a defender, however there’s one by which he has come up painfully quick throughout practically a decade with the membership.

By no means thoughts Tavernier’s 129 objectives and 139 assists in 496 video games for Rangers, spectacular totals which are usually cited in response to criticism of his defensive qualities.

Outstanding although his contribution to Rangers’ objective tally has been since he moved to Ibrox in 2015, there’s one notable flaw which reared its ugly head within the horror present at Ibrox final Sunday.

Tavernier had the chance to stop the worst Scottish Cup lead to Rangers’ historical past when he stepped up in stoppage time to take a penalty in opposition to Queen’s Park.

James Tavernier sees his penalty saved within the Scottish Cup defeat by Queen’s Park

Tavernier has really transformed simply three of his eight penalty makes an attempt in Scottish Cup

He struck it properly sufficient, however goalkeeper Calum Ferrie saved, leaving Rangers’ captain with a haunted look because the Championship aspect held on for a jaw-dropping 1-0 victory.

Whereas 69 of Tavernier’s objectives for Rangers have been penalty kicks, his document from the spot is poor on the subject of the Scottish Cup. The Englishman has transformed simply three of his eight makes an attempt in that competitors.

The miss in opposition to Queen’s Park might be added to misses in opposition to Hibs, Partick Thistle, Stirling Albion and Kilmarnock. His successes had been in opposition to Dumbarton, Dundee and Stirling.

Dropped earlier within the season, 33-year-old Tavernier has performed his means again into Philippe Clement’s staff and it could possibly be argued {that a} shot from 12 yards is not any approach to measure his worth to the membership.

However the catastrophic price of that miss on Sunday has uncovered him to the worst of the criticism from supporters, lots of whom had already argued that his time was up.

For all that he’s closing in on 500 Rangers appearances and a doable testimonial, there’s one other statistic from which Tavernier can not escape as he approaches 10 years of service.

In all that point, he has lifted simply three main trophies – a league title, a Scottish Cup and a League Cup. He’ll know that, mitigating circumstances or not, rather more is predicted from a Rangers captain.

Unfortunate Barisic is struggling one merciless blow after one other

As dangerous as Rangers’ season goes below Philippe Clement, it hasn’t been a lot better for a few of these skilled gamers who had been a part of his clearout final summer time.

Whereas some, corresponding to Connor Goldson, Ben Davies and John Lundstram, have gone on to play common soccer elsewhere, others have nearly disappeared off the radar.

Kemar Roofe has struggled to seek out one other membership, goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin has made only one look for Swansea Metropolis and poor Borna Barisic is having a wretched time of it.

Barisic went with Lundstram to Trabzonspor however, in contrast to the English midfielder, failed to carry down a spot and was quickly being advised by his supervisor, Senol Gunes, to seek out one other membership.

Borna Barisic in happier days at Rangers, however the participant has had powerful instances since leaving membership

After numerous choices fell via final month, the Croatian left-back appeared to have sorted out his future with a mortgage transfer to Leganes, who additionally signed Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes from Aberdeen.

Barisic had been acquired after a severe damage to the Spanish aspect’s first-choice left-back, Enric Franquesa, however his debut in opposition to Valencia on Sunday couldn’t have gone any worse.

Simply 10 minutes into the 2-0 defeat, he twisted his knee and needed to be taken off in some misery. Leganes later confirmed that Barisic had suffered an ACL damage and could be out for the remainder of the season.

It’s an exasperating growth for struggling Leganes and one other merciless blow for Barisic, who was by no means removed from the remedy desk throughout his six years at Ibrox.

Exploding the parable about Rangers managers and the Scottish Cup sack race

One unusual side to the fall-out from Rangers’ shock exit to Queen’s Park was a fantasy which was instantly accepted as reality.

Sat ashen-faced within the media room after the loss, it was put to Philippe Clement that Rangers managers don’t survive such outcomes. This assertion has been repeated advert nauseam since.

There are solely two Scottish Cup defeats in Rangers’ historical past which evaluate with what was witnessed on Sunday.

On January 28, 1967, the Ibrox aspect misplaced 1-0 to Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park courtesy of Sammy Reid’s objective.

Philippe Clement was requested by media if he felt he might survive Scottish Cup shock

Graeme Souness wasn’t sacked after Rangers had been knocked out of the Cup by Hamilton

Scot Symon remained on the helm for ten extra months after Berwick Rangers defeat

The repercussions had been extreme. Jim Forrest and George McLean by no means performed for the membership once more and had been transferred to Preston and Dundee respectively.

Nevertheless, Scot Symon, the supervisor that day, didn’t lose his job. He limped on till November of that 12 months when he was proven the door regardless of his aspect being high of the league.

Quick ahead 20 years to January 31, 1987 and it was the flip of Hamilton Accies to ship shockwaves via Scottish soccer when Adrian Sprott scored at Ibrox to ship Graeme Souness’ lavishly-assembled aspect spinning out of the match.

Seven months after Souness had been appointed participant supervisor and been handed the sources to signal gamers like Terry Butcher and Chris Woods, the defeat in opposition to a aspect that may win simply six league video games out of 44 matches was actually astonishing.

However Souness additionally saved his job. He would go on so as to add the league title to the League Cup he’d already gained. He would depart for Liverpool in 1991 at a time of his selecting.

There could also be anger amongst Rangers supporters that Clement has survived this catastrophe. Opposite to a broadly held perception, it isn’t with out precedent.

Turks reckon Hagi will comply with in his dad’s illustrious footsteps someday 

Galatasaray supervisor Okan Buruk has revealed the Turkish giants tried to signal Ianis Hagi – and reckons he’ll play for them someday.

The Rangers midfielder was born in Istanbul when his legendary father Gheorghe performed for Galatasaray in 1998, and the 26-year-old has by no means hidden his admiration for the membership.

Buruk was a colleague of Hagi senior earlier than happening to handle the membership and holds the document as having gained most titles in Turkey – with seven as a participant and three as a boss.

Now he’s damaged his silence about his curiosity in Hagi and his admiration for the participant, who’s out of contract at Ibrox on the finish of the season.

Galatasaray would love Ianis Hagi to play for the Turkish membership a while sooner or later

Gheorghe Hagi celebrates successful the European Tremendous Cup with Galatasaray in 2000

‘Throughout a earlier switch window, we had been curious about him,’ admitted Boruk. He’s an excellent participant. Sadly, he was injured up to now. However now he’s okay.

‘I do know he’s enjoying properly at Rangers now.

‘I bear in mind him when he was a baby right here at Galatasaray along with his father. He was once in every single place. He was sitting and watching the coaching.

‘Within the final two years, I’ve all the time adopted Ianis. Now he’s in fine condition.

‘He’s a tremendous footballer, with potential. I repeat, we had been curious about him throughout a switch interval, however he performs for an additional staff simply now

‘Who is aware of? Possibly someday he’ll play for Galatasaray.’

Potter’s staff are peaking at precisely the fitting time 

This weekend could possibly be an enormous one for Rangers’ ladies who’re hoping that, with slightly assist from their rivals, they will take cost of the title race.

Because the season enters an important section, Jo Potter’s aspect discover themselves simply two factors behind each Glasgow Metropolis and Celtic, who meet on Friday evening.

Rio Hardy scores Rangers’ seventh objective within the 10-0 hammering of Aberdeen final Sunday

The thumping victory over the Dons has put Rangers in a great place within the title race

Ought to the division’s first and second-placed groups draw at Petershill Park, Rangers can go high with a victory in opposition to Partick Thistle on the identical venue on Sunday.

Rangers seem like coming into type at simply the fitting time. Because the flip of the 12 months, they’ve rattled off 5 straight victories, the newest of which was a 10-0 thumping of Aberdeen final Sunday.

In what was their first residence sport within the league this 12 months, Katie Wilkinson scored a hat-trick, Rio Hardy and Liv McLoughlin acquired two apiece and there was one every for Kirsty Howat and Laura Berry. Aberdeen’s Megan Sidey scored an personal objective.

Potter stated her staff had been a pleasure to look at from begin to end. ‘It’s not solely the scoreline, however the efficiency, too,’ she defined. ‘We’ve got been deserving of that for some time now.’