Reasons to be Cheerful?

Apparently, patience is virtue. Unfortunately, it is a quality which is, generally speaking, in short supply where Rangers is concerned.

On Saturday afternoon, however, it seemed that the grudging patience we have been forced to display over this long and arduous summer was beginning to be rewarded. In the days prior to the Ross County match, news emerged of our possible return to Ibrox, perhaps at a date even earlier than John Bennett’s aspirations would have previously allowed. What followed on the pitch did little to temper the small shoots of positivity which had begun to emerge through the previously barren soil.

Since March it has felt like we have lurched from catastrophe to crisis: the failure in the league from a position of strength; a disappointing- if slightly unlucky - cup final defeat; the stadium debacle; a UCL exit and the slow pace of squad makeover. Each new disappointment compounding the last.

Then, on Saturday, Rangers played well. In fact, for long spells, Rangers played really well.

But as is the wont of our chairman, I must at this point offer a caveat. Ross County are a poor side, at times at Hampden resembling a junior team who had been on the batter on Friday night and then had a curer or two at lunchtime. But, let’s face it, it is not as if we have regularly witnessed Rangers dismantling teams of that quality over recent years and certainly not in the manner in which they did so at the weekend.

In the aftermath of the game, Dessers, Matondo and Lawrence were rightly singled out for praise from the majority of the support. Dessers played like a proper nine, linking the play, creating space and chances for others and scoring two centre-forward goals. With two goals and two assists, Rabbi Matondo probably put in his best performance in royal blue and Tom Lawrence reminded us of what we thought he would bring to the side when he signed.

Connor Barron continues to impress and his performance, particularly when alongside Diomande in the second half, provided reasons to be optimistic. I love the way he plays. There’s his obvious energy and his desire to remove the ball from the opposition at the earliest opportunity, but what I’ve enjoyed most is his intent when he is on the ball.

It is not only that he looks to play progressive, through-the-lines passes but it is the speed at which he does so. This is also true of his more lateral passes which are still progressive and done at a pace we have become unused to seeing. The manner in which he opens play to the left or right has allowed our wide players that sliver of extra time and space which so often makes a chasm of difference to attacking play.

He is young and inexperienced and he will have dips in form, but he has already demonstrated a willingness and capacity to develop not only as a first-team player but also as an on field leader.

Time does not stand still, however, and although spirits have been raised, the actions of the club this week will go a long way to mapping out the remainder of this season and the consequent mood music around the club.

Sunday will take care of itself. A game which perhaps only two weeks ago might have been watched through the fingers of sweaty hands can now be approached with cautious optimism. However, the business done by midnight on Friday will have a bigger impact on our season as a whole.

If patience is a virtue then it is one – for at least this week – that Rangers must eschew. We need new faces. Players that will impact the team and squad in the short to medium as well as the long term. Again, I feel that cautious optimism is appropriate.

Imagine, if you will, that at midnight on Friday TikTok Tod et al have left the building and we have brought in three or four game changers. It’s possible. Imagine too that we return from the east on Sunday with a result. Not outlandish at all. Imagine then heading back to Ibrox, and the boost that will surely provide, with a younger, hungrier squad and a manager with a record of success.

Then maybe, just maybe, for the first time in a while, the light at the end of the tunnel might not be a train.

I’ll leave you with the words of a gentleman who sits in front of me in the Copeland Rear, and, more recently in front of me at Hampden. On the final whistle, he turned with a smile, a nod and a quick handshake:

“I’ll see you when we get home.”