The words “Michael Beale” and “sacked” were used in the same sentence by an unmistakably infuriated caller. One of those Glasgow citizens who has no time for people who want patience.
The context was straightforward. The disenchanted Rangers supporter insisted on air that the gap between his club and Celtic in the league table had to be reduced to three points by the end of the season. The decoded version of that statement was that Beale had to win the two league games between the clubs that remain outstanding.
Or else. The inference was that, based on historical precedent, the Rangers manager who consistently fails to beat Celtic can’t remain Rangers’ manager. The job is not as “complex” as Beale thinks when it is being assessed by fans. And they don’t want to hear that Rangers are “competing against the odds” either. A temperature check was taken after the Viaplay Cup Final defeat at Hampden last Sunday.
Death traditionally introduces a sense of perspective – or at the very least a pause for reflection. A minute’s applause in tribute to Ron Gordon, the late owner of Hibs, was interrupted by a sectarian sing-song from a portion of the Rangers support.
This wasn’t just a show of shameful conduct. When the picture isn’t pretty the fans’ mood turns ugly – and this was a manifestation of unrest.
Beale must now see the date of the next meeting with Celtic on April 8 in neon lights on his office calendar. He sounded like a man who was publicly expressing his inner concerns when he addressed the media on Thursday and spoke of not having huge amounts of money to compete against those with a spending power normally associated with teams who finish first.
A financial report given in the midst of the same season in which Ibrox chairman Douglas Park had spoken of out-of-contract players’ demands being “unattainable” in certain cases. Ally McCoist’s post-match exchanges with Ange Postecoglou after the Viaplay Cup win for Celtic were box-office television.
But there was a deadly serious message behind the comedy interlude and it was delivered by the Ibrox legend who rated Beale’s appointment at six out of 10 on the day it happened. Plenty of people associated with the club believe success for Beale is more likely to come after Postecoglou has been lured away from Celtic Park.
That’s prompted the numerous offers of lifts to Glasgow Airport or any other destination of Ange’s choice. But this is not a ringing endorsement of the man in charge at Ibrox.
And wishful thinking may need to withstand a testing time first of all. I’m told a League One club approached a member of Celtic’s coaching staff last week with a request to take a teenage player on loan until the end of the season.
The response was that the idea would have to be run past Postecoglou for his consent. In other words, nothing – no matter how large or how small – happens without the manager knowing about it and giving his approval.
In a relatively short space of time Postecoglou has taken responsibility for everything from winning trophies to becoming the man with whom the buck stops. He is Celtic.
And the £50million his club have in the bank is odds on to be added to by the money that comes with qualification for the Champions League next season. Ange might have inherited chaos but he has established order to an extent that Rangers fans have become restive before Beale has even reached the landmark of 20 games in charge.
It’s unlikely last weekend’s defeat at Hampden will have unduly concerned Michael’s managerial predecessor, Giovanni van Bronckhorst. They say Gio was less than impressed by the sight of Beale in the Ibrox directors box last November, when the Dutchman was at his lowest ebb and speculation about his future was at its highest level.
A mood swing developed thereafter that unseated the manager and unveiled Beale as his successor. Now the mood has turned sour once again and the onus is on the incumbent to illustrate the progress he spoke of
during his latest press conference.
Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for. And the impatient fans are looking for more than the full-time gathering of the players on the pitch at Hampden following the cup final defeat.
It reminded me of Phil Brown’s half-time rollicking of his Hull City players when they were four down against Manchester City at the Etihad back in 2008. The fact is, if you pick the wrong team and lose a cup final to Celtic, you’re Raskin for trouble, so to speak.
In Beale’s position, condemnation comes as quickly as patience becomes hard to find. Redemption, temporary or long-term, can be similarly swift. Rangers have to win the next two derby matches because a double-digit lead for Celtic is unthinkable in the eyes of the fans.
Likewise, a Treble for Celtic is unacceptable for the same people and must be prevented – whether it is the result of Hearts doing Rangers a favour in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals or Beale’s side redeeming themselves if there is to be a sixth Old Firm match before the season is over. Last Sunday was Absolutely Not Good Enough in the Rangers supporters’ estimation, if their initial reaction is anything to go by.
Meantime, they and the manager could get a pick-me-up if lightning were to strike twice in Paisley today when Celtic take on St Mirren. But on the basis that the league defeat there earlier in the season was the first Celtic had suffered since September 2021 – and they have had none since – anyone holding their breath for a slip-up by Celtic could be taking a medical risk.
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