Rangers are currently a massive 35 points behind Celtic and there’s every chance that gap widens between now and the end of the season. To say it’s been a year of missed opportunity for the Gers is an understatement. Many supporters were hoping they’d have a much better showing after their promotion from the Scottish Championship.
A series of poor results under Mark Warburton eventually brought his situation at the club to a head, as he left in acrimonious circumstances.
Since then results have been mixed for Pedro Caixinha but they are unbeaten and also have the chance to still land some major silverware this season in the form of the Scottish Cup.
One of Caixinha’s key tasks over the next 12 months will be closing this 35 point gap to Celtic and while it may be a stretch to say they can do anything like win a league title next season, at the very leasts that gap can be cut significantly.
Here are three reasons why…
Celtic’s freak season
Let’s be honest, Celtic aren’t going to have another season where they go as long unbeaten as they are right now. Theoretically it could happen but the chances are slim to sustain that kind of success, as good a side as Brendan Rodgers has turned them into.
The Hoops are already on 90 points for the season and could rack up as many as 108, a ridiculous total for any team in any league. While they are to be congratulated on that, doing that two seasons in a row would be unprecedented.
It’s been a massively successful campaign but as the club look to focus even more on European football next term, it could open the door for teams to get that little bit closer and potentially put up a fight in individual matches too. We’ve already seen Rangers go from a 5-1 drubbing to a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park this season, whose to say that won’t continue after the summer?
On paper, Rangers should be second
The wage bill of Rangers outstrips the vast majority of Scottish football, in fact every team outside of Celtic. On paper, despite their recent promotion, they should be dominating most sides up and down the country. They should also be ahead of Aberdeen, as good a unit as Derek McInnes has turned them into.
They have the talent to finish a comfortable second behind Celtic and there should be no excuses about not doing that next season. The Gers receive terrific backing from the stands too, something that in theory should give them an edge, especially at Ibrox.
It would be a failure on Caixinha’s part if he can get say, an extra 20 points next season than they have currently. It may not see them challenge for the title but it would provide significant progress and at least cut the gap to Celtic to a more acceptable level.
There’s simply no reason they should be drawing with the likes of Motherwell and Kilmarnock given the difference in resources.
A Portuguese summer
One of the key failings of Mark Warburton’s time at Rangers was his recruitment last summer. There’s no denying it was poor. Joey Barton, Joe Garner, Niko Krancjar, Philippe Senderos; all players that have failed to make a real impact at the club this season.
The Gers should be look to take a much more pragmatic approach to this summer’s window and with new contacts and avenues to explore with Pedro Caixinha, have an opportunity to bring in fresh talent and fresh ideas at the club.
Will we see some players from the manager’s homeland? Will they shop in Scotland? Perhaps a combination of both these things would suit them.
What’s clear is that Warburton’s network of players from the English leagues haven’t quite worked out and a change in philosophy off the pitch could go a long way to closing the gap on the pitch.