Former Rangers hero Arthur Numan has said that the current crop of Ibrox players need to start digging one another out as they did in his era, believing that the modern-day men Philippe Clement is working with are too quiet on the pitch.
Numan was part of hugely successful Rangers sides under Dick Advocaat and then Alex McLeish, but when things weren’t going well or a teammate was in need of a talking to, there were a host of experienced players only too willing to deliver it.
He doesn’t see that from the Rangers players when he watches their matches now, and he thinks there is a place for some home truths to be delivered when it is required if a team is going to be successful.
“Sometimes you need experience in some positions, players who can maybe coach the other ones on the pitch, that is very important,” Numan said.
“I notice nowadays that sometimes on the park they’re very quiet, it’s not like in our time when sometimes you would be shouting at one another.
“You miss that on the park. Sometimes you have to tell each other the truth. When someone shouted at me, I might have needed that. You would want to show them that they were wrong, but at least that gives you some motivation.
“You would want to say, ‘f*** off’, and they would give you something back as well.
“Sometimes I miss that on the park. You see someone making a mistake and they are looking around and no one is saying anything.
“That is the same at a lot of clubs these days, it’s different from 20 years ago. We were telling each other the truth, but only for one reason – for the result.
“After the game, we would shake hands and then go for a drink.”
*Arthur Numan was speaking at a Scottish Gas media event. Scottish Gas is the proud partner of the Men's Scottish Cup.
