da doce： The international break is the perfect opportunity for Rangers to take a breather and make vital decisions regarding their future. The departure of Pedro Caixinha happened in such a blur, with important matches coming quickly after, that thoughts of who would replace the Portuguese had to be put aside to allow caretaker boss Graeme Murty to focus on picking up points.
da prosport bet： It’s still a job that can attract ambitious managers looking to make their mark on British football. Rangers are a big club, with a massive fanbase and a budget that should allow them to be a force in Scotland. A variety of names have been linked with the vacant position, from Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes to former England manager Steve McClaren and many in between.
One name that sparked a lot of speculation was Alan Pardew, who The Daily Mail reported he was actually in contact with the Scottish giants via his representatives about potentially taking over in the wake of Caixinha’s departure. The paper say that McInnes requires a £1m compensation fee, meaning he might be unavailable to the Light Blues, opening the door for the likes of Pardew to take over.
With no further word this week about who will be taking charge at Ibrox, that sort of link should be worrying indeed for Rangers fans. Giving Alan Pardew the job would be a dreadful move, exactly the kind of manager they should be looking to avoid as they enter a new era. This is the most important appointment at the club in recent years and it’s vitally important they get it right.
Lacking credibility
Rangers don’t need managers with baggage and Alan Pardew has plenty of that. Having just gone through a period of off the pitch drama with Pedro Caixinha, from bizarre press conferences to touchline confrontations with rivals, the Light Blues should be looking for a manager who can rise above all that and focus on winning football matches. Pardew has a history of making headlines for all the wrong reasons, from headbutting players to bizarre criticisms of rival managers.
In the goldfish bowl of football in Glasgow, does he have the personality to cope with what is one of the most pressurised jobs in football? If the press liked fanning the flames with Caixinha, they’d absolutely love doing it with Pardew, knowing that headlines would be hear across Britian and not just north of the border. If he thinks his actions are scrutinised at clubs like Crystal Palace, it’s nothing compared the spotlight that is put on you as manager of either Celtic or Rangers.
The fans need an inspirational leader who will take a pragmatic approach to life at Ibrox both on and off the pitch and frankly Pardew lacks credibility in both regards. His last year at Palace rapidly unravelled, with his side drawn into battles that make excellent Match Of The Day fodder, but which would be a nightmare for a team who need stability and progression.
Premier League temptation
Names like Alan Pardew and Steve McClaren must be tempting indeed for decision makers at Ibrox. They are both managers who have experience of managing teams in the English Premier League, a division with a reputation as the pinnacle of club football management. They both have a profile beyond most of the managers that will be looking at the Ibrox position.
Across the city in Glasgow, Celtic appointed a manager with dwindling reputation in England that proved to be the most inspired appointment in recent Scottish football history, wouldn’t a name like Pardew similarly work out at Ibrox?
The truth is though, the last thing Rangers need is an ego who sees the Light Blues as a chance to keep themselves in the headlines. They need an up and coming boss, not one whose day has come and gone.
Most important of all, they need someone who focuses on football, the product on the pitch and someone who knows Scottish football like the back of their hand. For too long Rangers have dabbled in experiments, now they need to bank on a sure bet with a proven track record of delivering in the Scottish Premiership. Alan Pardew is about as far from that as imaginable.