Part three and the final round of our season predictions for the blog, took us to the Ibrox commentary box to speak with the legendary Tom Miller @TomCommentator for his thoughts on the season ahead
Season Expectations & SPFL finish?
Champions. Strength in depth within squad, superior work rate & fitness put in place through pre season will make us capable of sustaining the challenge
Top Goal scorer? Morelos assuming he stays with us for the full season and he’ll hit 25.
Player of the year I suspect will be Scott Arfield who will prove to be perpetual motion in the engine room & be a model of consistency.
Young player year will be Katic as a young giant of the defence
Signing of the year will be Coulibaly the destroyer – a modern day Terry Hurlock ! The fans will love his wholehearted attitude !
Season expectations? – First & foremost expectations are simple – improve on last year on and off the field and lay solid foundations to build upon over the next few years, while also being competitive in every tournament we are involved in. Europe progress would be a bonus & only when you reach the group stages does the finance really become worthwhile. It must not become a distraction from our primary target of wrestling that title back from the other side of the city! Would very much settle for making the group stage.
Management expectations? – Also straight forward; WIN at all costs ! Steven Gerrard epitomised a winner in his own career and he will expect his players to match his commitment positivity & mental strength to invoke winning habits! Gerrard & McAllister are not here just to go through the motions !!
Season surprise? – will be progress of a couple of kids becoming first team squad players making more of a mark as the season unfolds. Glenn Middleton will get game time with his dashing pace a threat from the bench as an impact player, likewise Zak Rudden who could also thrust himself into more top team game time as he is raw as sushi but he is a genuine goal threat and I suspect both will be given a platform by SG to accelerate their development.
Special mention for the fans who have again stepped up with sensational commitment – they are due reward by way of a trophy! How we will all enjoy those celebrations! We should also acknowledge the background challenges faced by the board as they continue to address inherited complex issues such as commercial contracts and the lack of preventative maintenance at the stadium and the training centre. Work is going on to put these dilapidations right and again reevaluating every activity and area of the club and putting procedures in place to put this club back on top every which way!
Next we asked Heart & Hands very own David Edgar @Ibroxrocks and he gave us this response
SPFL finishing place & why – 1st because if we don’t aim for that then what are we even doing?
Top Goal scorer – If Morelos stays, I’ll say him. If not Sadiq.
Player of the year – Jordan Rossiter. F&ck it, I’m going there. If he stays fit – and I know that’s nothing more than wish fulfilment on my part – he’s an exceptional talent.
Young player of the year – Ross McCrorie will continue his development into becoming the best player in Scotland.
Signing of the year – Conor Goldson ticks a lot of boxes.
Season expectations – Winning everything. Failing that, I’d take a title race and a cup.
European expectations – If we qualified for the EL proper it would be a hell of an achievement. 3rd round would have to be considered a pretty decent start of re-establishing ourselves.
Management expectations – It’s difficult at the moment in amongst the excitement, but I think Mr. G is on a different level of professionalism to the last few. If he can spread that throughout the playing squad, we’ll be in a decent place.
Season surprise – I think Jamie Murphy will be surprisingly important for us this season.
(Worth saying if you don’t listen or have never listened to Heart & Hand then you should subscribe now, excellent podcast with a range of shows for everyone’s taste, our very own Alexander Staff is a guest regularly)
Next up prediction wise is Chris McLaughlin @chr1sMcLaughlin who kindly volunteered until he seen all the questions!
SPFL finishing place- 1st. We were top goal scorers last season and I can’t see that changing. Improve goals conceded and make Ibrox a fortress again and 55 is a huge possibility.
Top goal scorer- Windass. Gerrard will take him to next level
Player of year- Arfield. Exactly what we have missed over last few years.
Season expectations- silverware. We must bring home something this season. Fans have waited far too long
European expectations- Europe is a bonus. Out coefficient means that we are unseeded after 1st round. We must makes 3rd round minimum and hope for a lot of luck.
Management expectations- we just want to see progress. A team fighting for its manager, the fans and each other. Also already refreshing to see Gerrard have little time for the usual stupid questions at media conferences
Season surprise- Rossiter. Overcomes injury problems and becomes crucial player for us 🙏
Next up to predict is FF user @PMB1872 Colin Howden
SPFL finishing place & why –
1st. The Gerrard professionalism, defence strengthening, general physicality uplift, more squad options
Top Goal scorer –
He might not have signed yet, but from those already here I’m going to guess Morelos but maybe only with 20 goals. I think goals will be spread around.
Player of the year – Goldson
Young player of the year – Ross McCrorie
Signing of the year – Arfield, or someone yet to sign.
Season expectations – Win the league and maybe a cup.
European expectations – We will make QR3, the rest may be draw dependant.
Management expectations –
Not sure what this means.
Their expectation will be to seriously challenge.
I expect them to shake things up. No quarter given.
Season surprise – Umar Sadiq. Won’t expect much but suspect he may deliver a lot.
So final predictions come from my good self, Steven Clifford @steviecliff27 the lad behind 4lads twitter.
SPFL finishing place & why – 1st, as David said above if we aren’t aiming for first then why bother?
Top Goal scorer – I don’t think he’s here yet and will be mid August before he arrives, but going on this current squad I’ll say Alfredo Morelos.
Player of the year – Jon Flanagan, went for someone different but I think Jon will really surprise people and will endear himself with a few crunching challenges on those we dislike 😊
Young player of the year – Glenn Middleton will prove to be a great youngster this year and I’m confident we finally have the management to nurture these youngsters properly
Signing of the year – Connor Goldson will smash it this year, looks strong, composed and I think he will be the real deal
Season expectations – I expect us to be much better than the last few years, that’s a minimum expectation. But I am acutely aware we need time and patience as the season goes on until SG can have us up to speed
European expectations – Not to be humiliated. The group stage is a dream scenario both financially and for where we need to regularly be, but 3rd round minimum and if any exit make it to a team of decent standing
Management expectations – To bring us a consistent, difficult to beat, Rangers team we can be proud of. It will take time but let’s keep in there until Christmas time then we can find our feet and really push on. I finally believe that we have the right management in place
Season surprise – Lassana Coulibaly and this is obviously a complete guess, but I just have a hunch he will be an absolute star.
**********
So there we are, season predictions and expectations for another season are done. Thanks to everyone who took part over the last few days and we look forward with interest to how our season goes. We will of course take a wee look back at these come the seasons end just to see how close we all were
🔴⚪️🔵
Four Lads Had A Dream 