Every Rangers fan would love a crystal ball to predict their team’s fortunes next season.
But the performance of Michael Beale’s side against Hibs on Wednesday night might just have given us a glimpse into the future. Listen, I don’t claim to know the manager inside out. But I’ve followed his career from being Steven Gerrard’s number two to taking over at QPR then returning to Ibrox.
And what I witnessed at Easter Road is exactly the type of display I’d expect from a Michael Beale team. It’s only one game, so no-one should get carried away. But make no mistake, that was the highest standard we’ve seen from Rangers this season. The ball speed, the tempo, the intensity - on and off the ball - was fantastic.
The pressure to regain possession high up the pitch and release forward players closer to Hibs’ box - which led to a couple of goals - was outstanding. Rangers were in total control of that game and Lee Johnson’s side couldn’t get near them. People talk about certain grounds in the Premiership as ‘hard places to go' for Rangers.
But when you move the ball the way they did in midweek you remove that danger. Because teams like Hibs can’t get close when you’re in that form. Michael likes this system of a diamond-like midfield, with Ryan Kent at the tip of it and the two strikers playing a bit wider. It reminds me of Liverpool at their best when they had Roberto Firmino dropping off with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah at either side.
Kent has that ability to roam which led to such a free-flowing, wonderful team performance. Honestly, it was a really enjoyable watch. And dare I say it, that’s how I feel when I watch Celtic under Ange Postecoglou. It’s the other side of the city and I don’t want to be seeing it.
But they’re entertaining, a constant threat and they score a lot of goals. And they play with that speed and intensity for 90 minutes. That’s what Rangers were like in Edinburgh on Wednesday night. The game flew in because the players went at it non-stop. And in terms of Kent, the manager has to take a lot of credit.
Because it’s been a conundrum for the last two Rangers gaffers - how do you get him more involved in games? The boy has ability, everyone knows that. But it’s been in flashes for me. Even in Europe against top quality opposition or when Rangers won the title, you just never felt Kent was producing complete performances.
The only thing missing at Hibs - and it’s been the same throughout his career so far - was goals. The level of chances he had was very high and he was at the heart of every good move on Wednesday. But if he’d have scored one or two goals on top of that? We’d seriously be talking about a 9.5 or 10 out of 10 display. It was THAT good.
Kent is obviously one of the high-profile players who is out of contract this summer. But Michael has had a relationship with him for a number of years and clearly rates him highly. If he’s been told by the club that he’s free to go - I wouldn’t expect to see him putting in performances like he did against Hibs.
In fact, if he isn’t going to be at Ibrox next season, would the manager even be playing him? I’m sure Michael would now want to build with the players he knows will be there next term. And I’d be surprised if Kent isn’t one that he’s desperate to keep moving forward. He has performances like the other night in him - we all know that.
He did it against Borussia Dortmund last season, who are a powerhouse of European football. They couldn’t live with him. Against Hibs, he was constantly involved, he never disappeared. And Michael will be hoping he can reproduce that until the end of the season.
The manager said Rangers could have scored eight in Leith. For me, it SHOULD have been, based on the level of chances they created. The challenge now for Michael and the players is to replicate it on a consistent basis. It’s one thing reaching that level in one game.
But you have to repeat it again and again. That’s what gives you long, relentless, unbeaten runs. That’s what wins you leagues and cups. But if that performance is a sign of what’s to come next season under Michael, Rangers fans should start to get excited. This season, it’s been too sporadic.
There were really good showings even under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, like Aberdeen at home when they should have scored six or seven. Gio was constantly searching for the right formula and he was hampered by injuries, especially to his centre-backs. But with a solid base at the back now, maybe Michael has found it.
It just seemed to really come together against Hibs. And in terms of how people would see a Michael Beale team? That gave me a lot of encouragement on Wednesday night. Now they have to follow it up. And Raith in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox today is the perfect opportunity to do that.
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