Why Murty should get the Rangers job Permanently.

[Lloyd 10,756]

Analysis Corner: Graeme Murty is the man for the job at Ibrox

Jeff Holmes

By Dougie Wright (@dougie_wright)

When news broke on the 22nd December that Graeme Murty would be appointed Rangers’ first team manager until the end of the season, much of the Ibrox support was underwhelmed.

Thrown from the development squad to the first team after Pedro Caixinha left in October, the Yorkshireman had had a fairly erratic spell in charge of the Glasgow club.

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Of course, there were allowances for the fact that he had taken over a squad lacking in both confidence and tactical discipline, but three defeats to Hamilton, Dundee and St Johnstone over his two month spell had prevented the Yorkshireman from fully winning over the Rangers support.

The defeat to Kilmarnock the following day meant his interim record at that point stood at six wins and four defeats from ten games. Even worse than Pedro Caixinha.

Yet since that day at Rugby Park, a corner appears to have been turned for the Ibrox side. Eight games have yielded one defeat, six wins and a draw at Parkhead.

There’s little doubt that Murty has not only steadied the Rangers ship. He’s done this through effective man management, versatile tactics and, ultimately, good results.

The pace at which Jamie Murphy, Sean Goss and Greg Docherty have adapted to life at Ibrox is largely down to the interim boss. All three were hugely influential on Saturday, as they have been during their short time at the club so far. Even more impressive is the fact that Goss and Murphy had only played the equivalent of 4 competitive games between them this season.

Not only has Murty got them tactically up to speed at the club, but he’s got them match fit in record time too.

Furthermore, key players such as James Tavernier, Ross McCrorie and Josh Windass all committing to long term deals under Murty’s stewardship shows that the squad have faith in the former Scotland internationalist’s methods.

Murty has largely employed a 4-2-3-1 during his second caretaker spell. Here’s how they lined up against Hearts this weekend:

This is a pretty attacking side. Aside from the centre backs, every other player was regularly in the Hearts’ final third.

While Tavernier looks to overlap Candeias on the right, John’s diagonal dribbles inside the pitch from the left back position are becoming a more and more prominent feature of Rangers’ play.

Meanwhile in the centre, Docherty and Goss are building a strong combination. Docherty’s pass and move is complemented by Goss’ more expansive passing range, while Goss’ ability to anticipate and intercept opposition passes is complemented by Docherty’s ability to aggressively pressurise his opposite number.

Up front, Windass and Morelos are finding all sorts of space to run into and are using layoffs to link up with his other really well.

Ultimately, this is the first Rangers side in a while without an obvious weak link. While Allen deserves credit for bringing in cost effective signings behind the scenes, Murty is the man who has pulled it altogether. Indeed, since taking the reins in October, Rangers have scored more than any other team in the top flight.

Effective tactics and man management are pretty much prerequisites if you want to get results. As evidenced above, Murty has ticked both of these boxes for the club.

Murty’s second caretaker stint gives him a win percentage of 67%. Eighteen games isn’t loads to go on, but it’s pretty much exactly the same win ratio as Walter Smith had during his time at the club. 

At the start of the season, the Rangers board claimed that they expected a title challenge this year, given the summer investment. Since Caixinha’s departure, Brendan Rodgers’ celtic have taken 38 points from 18 games; Murty’s Rangers have taken 37 from 18. Who knows how Murty would get on with a full season under his belt?

Does he deserve the job full time?

Graeme Murty has done the job that the Rangers board thought Pedro Caixinha would do. Tactically versatile, Murty has engaged the players and now has the club playing an effective, attacking brand of football.

Rangers might be able to bring in a coach with a better CV, who may have achieved more elsewhere. However, if the board are really interested in the success and stability of the club, there should be only one man under consideration right now: Graeme Murty.

[Ger_onimo 20,488]

Where’s that from?

[With Heart and Hand 8,951]

agree with most thats been said and I like Murty

but shouldnt we just keep him on a one year rolling contract or something instead of giving him a 3 to 5 year contract and risking potential failure?

[Lloyd 10,756]

1 minute ago, Ger_onimo said:

Where’s that from?

https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/sport/football-news/analysis-corner-graeme-murty-man-job-ibrox/

[SeparateEntityMyArse 54,350]

Can he deliver us a title next season or the following one ?That's the only thing that's important.

If the Board believe so, and back him financially, then we'll see. Im not convinced but then I'm also not convinced by the alternatives.

He was given the job until the summer. Imo it's right that it is reviewed then in terms of the job done and his potential to end the bheasts title run to 9 or 10.

[simplythebestest 2,148]

In favour of Murty, I'd argue that if we'd brought in some fancy manager after Pedro and he had us playing as we are now, then we'd be calling him a success.

But the numero uno most important thing now is how we finish the season. We can't judge with 10 games to go. If he drops 12 points, he can gtf (with my thanks). If he drops 3 he gets the job. Somewhere in between and we'll see.

[TheMotor 2,208]

Should wait until end of season.

If he made it through the rest of the season undefeated, there would be no question to be asked.

Cup, one or two defeats but clear improvement and it should be his.

Less? Then you start a discussion on all available options. If he's still in contention at that point, you treat him equally on what he has shown while in charge.

[Teddybear123 215]

Decent article

[james_85 659]

if we continue in the same form till the end of the season then it will be difficult to not give him it full time. The only reason I could see that he doesn't get it would be if Morelos was to be sold for £10M+ and the season ticket money goes towards a bigger name and we have the option to possibly give them £15-£20M to spend. 

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Good article but I still can’t put my weight behind Murty for the job full time. Had too many fuckups.

We are definitely on the rise and the earls are on the decline though so I’ll wait and see how we end the season. 

Any more losses to shite like Hamilton and St Johnstone or any unnaceptable reverses at home(like Hibs x2) and he can go back to the youth squad.

[Rum Ham 2,067]

I'm judging him from January until the end of the season. 

I don't think with the squad Pedro left us, and the lack of depth, any manager that we could have attracted would have done much better.

Realistically Allen and Murty could be the best we could get right now, might not be the most glamorous, but could be the best.

It gives me the fear thinking some wanted people like Pardew just because of the level he's managed at.

No excuses for Murty from now on though, especially at Ibrox after the performances against Aberdeen and Hearts. 

[WATP-FOREVER 5,231]

To be or not to be - that is a fuck'n stupit question at this point of the season.

[Bakbear 3,586]

The thing about football is that there is no such things as a sure thing. We could get Jose Mourinho up here and he could fall flat on his face. We won't get him and we won't get any top rated manager, so anyone we would attract would have a higher risk of failure.

If Murty continues like he is now, if he gets a win off the scum and finishes the season with momentum then I think it would be madness to replace him for next season. 

I am delighted we failed to land McInnes and I am even happier that we don't have Tommy Wright. Steve Clarke is doing a great job at Kilmarnock but .. well ... Kilmarnock. 

Murty with Jimmy Nic alongside him and JJ seemingly an able assistant as well, Mark Allen finding the players, the set up might just work

[superallysbears 7,874]

If he keeps winning he'll get the job, tonight is another crucial night in the championship race, just keep winning. 

[Real Ranger 3,195]

Can't argue with any of that other than I would rather the board held off until the season ends before extending his contract. If he secures second place then the job should be his.

A few more quality signings in the summer would put us in a great position to challange for the title next season.

 

[Essandoh 21,396]

Far too early even with the job he’s done so far.

[KingKirk 25,858]

Changed my mind over this so many times. I'd wait and see in the summer who becomes available..

Still hoping the board have name potentially for the summer I'd love a GVB or FDB type to take us forward 

Murty has done a wonderful job and if its no a box office name hes as good as any imo

[pcbear 10,924]

1 hour ago, simplythebestest said:

In favour of Murty, I'd argue that if we'd brought in some fancy manager after Pedro and he had us playing as we are now, then we'd be calling him a success.

But the numero uno most important thing now is how we finish the season. We can't judge with 10 games to go. If he drops 12 points, he can gtf (with my thanks). If he drops 3 he gets the job. Somewhere in between and we'll see.

Agree with most of that, he is brand new to this but learning on the hoof so I will cut him some slack,if he does well between now and the seasons end I would have no problems with GM/JN carrying o.

If not we are back to square one again with the gamble of a new manager/backroom staff/players which may or may not be a disaster, the last three McCoist, Warburton and Caxhina  were fuckin awful (all nice guys but shite managers) I feel much more comfortable with Murty at the helm rookie or not he defo has something about him that is going to get better.

[The Specky Forum Organiser 66,658]

Unless we have a disastrous end to the season he should get it.

[Leeds_Bear 8,165]

1 hour ago, Sportingintegritymyarse said:

Can he deliver us a title next season or the following one ?That's the only thing that's important.

If the Board believe so, and back him financially, then we'll see. Im not convinced but then I'm also not convinced by the alternatives.

He was given the job until the summer. Imo it's right that it is reviewed then in terms of the job done and his potential to end the bheasts title run to 9 or 10.

Depends how we finish the season in my eyes; we've been on a really good run recently (probably our best in recent years) it will all count for nothing though if we don't get closer to that mob and also fail to win the cup.

Nothing changes until the summer.

I think the players have bought into Mark Allen's vision for the future of the club as opposed to Murty's - although Murty has certainly improved the atmosphere and attitude in camp.

[JC10 1,449]

Why not just wait and see how the rest of the season pans out?

[LaudrupsPatrickBoots 13,540]

He shouldn't. The end.

[Corky True Legend 2,682]

1 minute ago, LaudrupsPatrickBoots said:

He shouldn't. The end.

Who would you get to replace him?

[Smile 26,622]

Too much of a Pape lover for me regardless of results which overall have not been great, what's he lost seven game in his tenure and drawn two.

Praising Brown.

Praising Lenny as he terms him. 

Parkhead is a wonderful stadium to come and watch football.  

If you can stomach that as a Rangers supporter you can stomach anything.

 

[Perth_Campsie_Ger 18,107]

Is Murty not from Hampshire?