Michael Beale makes the trip north to Aberdeen hoping Rangers’ run-in doesn’t head south as he gears up for a massive seven days.
The Ibrox side face an in-form Dons who have won six on the bounce under new boss Barry Robson but the Reds will be without skipper Graeme Shinnie after his sending off for a challenge in last week’s win over Ross County. Huge controversy surrounded that red card - given after a VAR check - with an extra game slapped on his ban due to the “frivolous” nature of the club’s appeal.
Beale addressed that in his Pittodrie pre-match press conference, expressing sympathy for Aberdeen. He also spoke about his trip to Rome after sharing images in the Italian capital on his Instagram page as he confirmed it was strictly business with Rangers closing in on signing targets as he builds up to the big one on Sunday week and that Scottish Cup semi-final showdown against Celtic that could salvage their season. Here is every word of the Englishman’s presser.
Are any of the six players who missed St Mirren available this week?
MB: Scott Wright will be back. Young (Alex) Lowry hasn’t returned to training yet but will return to light training. Connor Goldson and Ryan Kent will make next weekend and Antonio will be touch and go. Ryan Jack will be three or four weeks.
Thoughts ahead of Aberdeen after getting that win right at the end last time…
MB: It will be remembered for Scott Arfield in the last couple of minutes. He gave us a reminder of that last weekend as well, arriving late in the box. He’s made his career on that. The games against Aberdeen, certainly up at Pittodrie, are usually feisty. Barry (Robson) has gone in at a difficult time and done really well and now they find themselves in the position they wanted to be at the start of the season. They’re in third place and that European place seems to be in their hands. They will want to end the season strongly with six games to go. Barry has been behind the scenes at the club for a long time and knows the squad and the club inside out. It will be a good game - second versus third - and in every away game we seem to be going to the form team. But our away form has been strong and I’m looking forward to the trip.
Will you consider resting players with semi-final around the corner?
MB: No. We’ll play the strongest team available for this game. I’m not a massive believer in that. There’s seven or eight days between games. We have, in general, momentum over the last number of games. We’ve played well and scored goals and I want to continue with that for the moment.
What did you make of Graeme Shinnie’s challenge?
MB: I haven’t seen the challenge but what I would say is that I don’t like this idea that you ask a question and you get more. The ban is the ban. You are allowed to ask the question and shouldn’t be penalised more. That seems harsh. I wouldn’t want that for one of my players. Graeme is a committed player who plays in the middle of midfield and has to make tackles and go for challenges. I haven’t seen it but either way if you appeal you shouldn’t be penalised more.
It’s like we don’t want people to appeal. We moan about what VAR does and doesn’t do. I think we’ve seen less reckless challenges and should have less controversy because everyone can see the thing back and the referees get the second opinion from the side. I just feel in this situation if you appeal the ban should be the ban or it gets reduced. I don’t see why it should be increased, we’re sending a dangerous precedent. If your player is sent off and you wish to appeal and it’s contentious - otherwise you wouldn’t appeal - then it shouldn’t be increased. If I was in that situation and it was clear there was maybe a decision to be made then I would ask the question. With the referees, since I came back to the club, I’ve been quite pleased with things. There’s been an open dialogue between us and Crawford (Allan, head of refereeing) which has been really positive and something I wasn’t aware of when I was an assistant.
Have you found a difference between referees in England and Scotland?
MB: I used to think the game in Scotland was very robust and we allowed things to go and it was part of the game and the fans knew it and that in Europe it was refereed slightly different but VAR has cleaned that up a bit. There’s no off the ball stuff. I haven’t seen any off the ball stuff this season. I’ve seen things in the past but VAR has cleaned that up across football and certainly here in Scotland. The players know the cameras are there and the dark arts are disappearing and the games are flowing well. Our whole debates every week seems to be around the handball ruling. We voted VAR in and it’s cost a lot of money so we have to give it time. There will be teething problems but as I watched the Champions League game this week involving two of the best teams in the world I don’t think either of those were penalties either so when we’re pointing fingers in our own league maybe it’s just that ruling we need need to look at. The officials can only apply the rule as it is and their interpretation of it and that will always be open to debate but VAR has seen less reckless tackles so I’m still seeing some benefits from it.
You must have an eye on the Scottish Cup semi final?
MB: Of course. The first game is this one this weekend and it’s a dangerous one because Aberdeen are in a good place and we’re going up there. It’s the third game we’ve played them since I came back in and the games have been very close. They’ll be buoyant and we’re going up there so my first focus is that and from the moment the game ends I’ll look next week. It’s dangerous to look too far ahead but of course we know it’s in the background.
You shared a social media post in Rome. Have you been on holiday?
MB: (laughs) No I’ve not been on holiday. I’ve been off working for the club and doing my job and off watching games. We played Saturday which is nice because it gives me a chance when we don’t play until the following Sunday to go out and meet contacts or watch games. That’s what I was doing.
How much has Ross Wilson’s departure added to your workload?
MB: I’ve been looking at players every minute of every day since I came in. It’s what I love to do. I love recruitment and looking at new players. I want to be excited coming in. I’ve been heavily involved. Ross is more of the guy that would oversee recruitment and bring lists but I had my own list and we would combine them. Ross would deal more with the agents and negotiations and I wold deal more with the player in terms of where he fits and what I want from him. I have someone else doing the negotiation part and I go on the road and meet the players as I’ve always done. I’m maybe 10 per cent busier but we have a really good infrastructure here so Ross leaving isn’t as big as maybe one or two would make out.
We’re in an age where data and statistics are thrown at you but that’s not really the game. You have to get under your eyes first and the stats have to back it up. You have to sit in a room with a player and he has to tell you why he wants to come to Rangers and understand his role completely if he comes in. If you’re signing a player in the same position as someone else then they want to know if they’re going to start or not. All of that has to take place face to face for me. That doesn’t mean you don’t have conversations over zoom or on the phone before that but you’re investing in people and they’re investing in you so relationship and feeling is massive. The manager has to be involved and at the front of it. That hasn’t changed but I’m more the go-to person right now.
How would you say the discussions have gone with players you’ve met this week?
MB: Really well. I’m really comfortable with where we’re going. It’s early. The window shuts on September 1 so it’s a long window. It’s clear we want to do most of our work early and when we’ve done that in the past it’s led to a strong pre-season and season. We know the early part of the season has European qualifiers in terms of the Champions League which is really important so there will be some new faces on the first day of pre-season. That’s your first stage of recruitment and the second phase is player trading between July and September. All those plans are in place. There’s one or two we’re not far away from sealing so I’m really happy.
Can you shed any light on reports Ryan Kent has started talks with Burnley?
MB: I think they’re on an embargo at the moment. Whether that will be lifted or not…I don’t know anything about that. Me and Ryan see each other every day and we’re fine with where everything’s at. There’s no news on his future and when there is it will be announced officially. It’s not a matter of persuading him. It’s a matter of having a conversation and making sure we’re on the same page.
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