BARRY FERGUSON has started work at Rangers after sealing his sensational Ibrox return as head coach.
But it’s fair to say he’s already familiar with his new players from his previous role.
Barry Ferguson has held his first press conference as Rangers manager[/caption]
Ferguson has previously highlighted Robin Propper’s lack of pace[/caption]
Ferguson, 47, has been placed in charge of the Rangers first team until the end of the season.
Assisted by fellow ex-Gers Allan McGregor, Billy Dodds and Neil McCann, Ferguson has taken over following the dramatic sacking of Philippe Clement on Sunday.
It’s a shock return to Ibrox for Ferguson whose last managerial role came more than three years ago.
The former Rangers captain’s last gig was in charge of Alloa between 2021 and 2022.
While he’s also worked as a Gers ambassador, Ferguson’s most prominent role since leaving Alloa has been as a pundit.
The former midfielder has appeared regularly on the radio and in newspapers over the past few years.
And as you might expect, it means he’s had plenty to say about the players who are now working under him.
For the most part, Ferguson has tended to err on the side of caution when commenting on the Rangers players but that doesn’t mean they’ve escaped his criticism.
Ferguson, as he has regularly done, appeared on the Go Radio Football Show back in December in the lead-up to Rangers’ huge Europa League clash with Tottenham at Ibrox.
And his comments back then highlight a concern Ferguson has with one of his players.
Assessing how the Gers should line up against the English giants, Ferguson called for Leon Balogun to start.
Why? Because he declared that Robin Popper has “NO PACE.”
Speaking before the game, Ferguson said: “I would play Balogun, but he is 36 and it’s a quick turnaround. If he’s 26, 28, 30, I wouldn’t have an issue. It might be a change they’ll look to.
“I like the Souttar and Balogun partnership. I’ve always liked Balogun – I think he’s experienced, reads the game really well and he’s still quick for his age.
“They’re coming up against a team who attack you very quickly. That could be an issue with Propper as he’s blessed with no pace whatsoever. But he has played Propper in the European games.”
Could those comments perhaps mean Ferguson won’t opt for Propper in upcoming matches?
That remains to be seen.
In terms of Cyriel Dessers, Ferguson has often defended the much-maligned striker.
He’s described flak received by the No9 as over the top – but he HAS at times questioned him.
Ferguson has often hailed Dessers’ attitude and refused to directly criticism – but he has commented on his quality previously.
Speaking last summer when Dessers was being linked with a move away from Rangers, Ferguson warned the club against selling him on.
However, he stated that the Light Blues needed to sign another striker and admitted Dessers’ quality didn’t always hit the desired heights.
Last August, Ferguson said: “I know he comes in for a lot of critcism but one think the big man gives you is 100 per-cent. He’s scored two goals in two games, 22 goals last year, and I don’t think you can get rid of him.
“I know Rangers still need in my eyes another number nine to come in for competition but I like the big man’s attitude.
“Sometimes he lacks that bit of quality, but if he had that quality he’d be playing somewhere else in a different league.”
Speaking at his first press conference as Rangers boss, Ferguson revealed that James Tavernier will retain the captaincy.
Tavernier has come under heavy criticism from sections of the Gers support over the course of the season.
Ferguson has regularly backed Tavernier publicly but he did take issue with the right-back following Rangers 3-0 defeat to Celtic back in September.
Speaking at the time, Ferguson said he felt Tavernier should have been more vocal on the pitch – and called for more leadership in the Rangers team as a whole.
Ferguson said: “I was captain of the team but I also had four or five teammates who wouldn’t shut up on the pitch. I’m being serious and it’s so important.
“You need communication, you need to sometimes give people a kick up the backside, you need to let them know ‘listen we need to get our finger out here, this is not good enough’.”
Ferguson also stated that Tavernier shouldn’t “expect to be bombproof” just because he’s captain.
That comment came after Tavernier had dramatically been dropped to the bench by former boss Clement.
As mentioned, Ferguson has often publicly defended and backed Rangers players.
And one player who could stand to benefit from his arrival is young midfielder Bailey Rice.
Rice, 18, made a handful of appearances under Clement, most recently being hooked at half-time of the humiliating Scottish Cup defeat to Queen’s Park.
Ferguson rates the former Motherwell kid highly and reckons he could be a Rangers mainstay for years to come.
He said: “I don’t see him day in, day out. But what I have seen of him, he has the capabilities to play in the Rangers first-team. At 18 years of age I have seen enough to say he has a chance to be a Rangers player for the next 10-15 years.”
Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers rues a missed chance during the William Hill Premiership match at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow. Picture date: Saturday February 22, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Rangers. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.[/caption]
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