One man casts a shadow over Steven Gerrard as he faces upto his toughest week in management. Graeme Murty.
The head-standing Development coach has already had two stints as Ibrox caretaker and is a safe pair of hands to step in when the inevitable happens to Mr Gerrard.
When Mark Warburton was informed by email that he had resigned Murty slipped into the brogues of dignity, when the barking dogs chased Pedro Caixinha off the scene the same man took charge without blinking.
After an extended honeymoon and too many false dawns recent events are catching up on Gerrard.
The joy of screaming into the Sky Sports cameras on December 29 look like providing the enduring memory of the Gerrard experiment. Like his Anfield career he nearly won the league. But never.
Despite spending the best part of £20m on his squad, including £7m on Ryan Kent the current Ibrox side have been found out by Hearts, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone. Three of those clubs are in the bottom half of the SPFL Premiership.
Damagingly Gerrard’s side were leading in three of those matches before dropping points. In the background Celtic have been swooping up full points with defenders Chris Jullien and Kris Ajer outscoring Alfredo Morelos.
Tomorrow the Ibrox club fly out to Portugal to face Braga. UEFA require Gerrard to face the media, Gary McAllister can’t step in but it’s another stand in act that will be worrying the current Ibrox boss.
Being outsmarted by Daniel Stendel, Alex Dyer, Derek McInnes and Tommy Wright isn’t going to help Gerrard get a management job in the EPL. If Murty takes over it’ll be the TV studios of Sky Sports and BT Sport that await Gerrard as he becomes another victim of failing to stop Celtic’s domestic domination.
Fix you 2020 pic.twitter.com/6fF6ZhWs71
— Tam sellics son III (@TamsellicsonIII) February 23, 2020
Is Graeme Murty still employed at ibrox? Asking for a South African friend
— ???????Rabbit Slippers??????? (@hoopydays07) February 23, 2020
Feel bad for graeme murty, his heart must sink every time his phone makes a sound atm
— j, (@rjrjrj88) February 24, 2020
19th February 2017 | Murtymania is running wild, brother! Graeme Murty is appointed new caretaker manager.
He goes on to lead @RangersFC to a 2-0 defeat at @DundeeFC. He also does a headstand. pic.twitter.com/XyFcxpnMQ9
— The Banter Years (@TheBanterYears) February 19, 2020
Graeme Murty when he gets a phone call, and the area code is Govan pic.twitter.com/hvKaFhly73
— shannon ? (@Shannonxmcauley) February 24, 2020
The terrifying thing about Gerrard potentially ever leaving is the fact this board gave Pedro the gig, were happy to leave Murty in charge, wanted McInnes.
— Wordo (@rappinghood1) February 23, 2020
#55 Lets Go………..back to the Murty
— Max Heder (@Mibbeesayes) February 23, 2020