Michael Beale was loved whilst he was here at Rangers.

Like many when they leave the club, his stock has risen considerably since departing. We have romanticised his tactics and play, for many, he was the choice this time last season.

But he is here now and Rangers have manager number 18.

It’s not the project it was the first time around, I sincerely doubt he will get the same patience as before when he came in under Steven Gerrard. He knows what is required. He has to win and he has to do it week in and week out.

“I want us to be on the front foot, I want us to take the handbrake off and I want us to go for it every single week.” 

The words spoken by the new manager are ones we can certainly get behind.

These are also some keywords many of the support has used. Beale hasn’t been a stranger, he’s seen many games and kept in touch. Perhaps his choice of phrase is a coincidence, or perhaps he has simply picked up what many in the fanbase has commented on.

For those wondering what kind of man Michael Beale is; well he will demand excellence and that everyone is all in. If they aren’t then they will simply not be around to see what happens next. Literally straight in the door on Monday, he met the players and put them straight out onto the training pitch for conditioning and fitness training.

These players, accused of being unfit and accused of having a bad attitude will not be afforded the same apathy at Rangers anymore. It’s time to work and if they don’t know it after a quick introduction (or reintroduction) and day one, they will very quickly learn it.

In short, Michael Beale won’t suffer fools lightly.

What can we expect on the pitch? Well, we know his style - fast, quick passing and a variation of 4-3-3, wide men, sometimes two 10s and organisation. Who can forget the almost mesmerising organisation away to Porto when the team were beautifully set out like a perfect Christmas tree?

But his arrival suddenly doesn’t fix everything that is wrong with Rangers. I’ll bore everyone again by mentioning that recruitment must be so much better and there can't be a disconnect between the director of football and the manager.

You can’t have a situation where the club renews a contract and then the manager tells the press he has had no discussions with the player about his future and wasn’t involved in his contract renewal as was the case with Robby McCrorie. You can’t have a situation where the manager is openly saying he didn’t get exactly what he wanted in the transfer market because sometimes the club think long-term when he wanted something for right now.

Ross Wilson is lucky to still be in position but it's an argument that I have already made my case for and don’t see the benefit in being vocal on again. All eyes should remain on a man responsible hugely for the situation we find ourselves in.

Michael Beale must be afforded the right to do things his way and whilst I understand how a sporting director works at any club, the manager must have the final say and be allowed to direct our football department. Critically he must also get in the players he wants.

Likewise, the clamour for a Scottish coach or assistant manager should only happen if he truly wants it and not something we force upon him to satisfy the outside noise. It must be his way.

Rangers Review: (Image: NQ)

As for his coaching team, well what do we know?

Neil Banfield comes with years of experience including 21 years at Arsenal. Harry Watling is an exciting young coach who is said to be a set-piece specialist. Damian Matthew also arrives as part of his staff. Those three will make up the core of his team but an assistant manager and fitness coach may also arrive with Rangers confirming further announcements are forthcoming.

The key factor in all this? The players. They don’t suddenly get a pass for everything that has gone on before and they are all almost certainly on notice but you can’t sack twenty players, the former manager took the blame for that and it cost him his job.

Beale must remodel this squad and remove those that aren’t good enough, those that clearly haven’t applied themselves as they should and those whose time at Rangers has simply come to an end. A new manager suddenly doesn’t negate the need for freshness and tough decisions to be made, all of the complaints are still relevant now as they were before. But the time for slack attitudes, application and performance is over and they will know it already or find out very quickly.

As for the doubts and the worry amongst those in the fanbase that perhaps aren’t really sold on this appointment? Well it’s all relevant, isn’t it? He does have limited managerial experience, he does know this squad so he may be overly loyal and he does have a good relationship with this board. That may all be positive, we simply must wait and see.

What is simply essential is that we see an uplift in performance and enthusiasm going forward. Beale must galvanise the support and he must bring the excitement back to the club. He wants to take the handbrake off? I say let him. The season still has a lot of rewards to play for and markers to put down.

I believe in Michael Beale and I believe he is the man to rejuvenate this club. I’m all in and he gets all our backing. We all want the same thing. Rangers have to win.

The story will unfold in the coming months.

Michael Beale blow us a kiss? Hopefully next time it’s whilst holding shiny trophies aloft, decked in his Rangers suit and brown brogues.

It’s a new era, Let’s go! Again.

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