We expected a big name

[Perth_Campsie_Ger 18,597]

CLINT HILL watched Rangers lurch from the dying days of Mark Warburton’s reign through Graeme Murty’s first spell as caretaker manager.

As Gers searched for a new boss, the veteran stopper felt sure they would opt for an experienced hand on the Ibrox tiller.

Instead, they brought in Pedro Caixinha, a little-known Portuguese coach with a background in Mexico and the Middle East.

It was a call which shocked Hill at the time, and one which returned to haunt Gers’ hierarchy before they pulled the plug on Caixinha’s disastrous seven-month reign.

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Hill, now No 2 to Joey Barton at Fleetwood Town, told SunSport: “Towards the end of Mark Warburton’s last season at Rangers, it was a little bit chaotic.

“Mark started the season and we had some good moments. But there were a few bad ones as well and we never got to the required standard, so the change was made.

“Graeme Murty came in and gave us some stability, and then all of a sudden Pedro Caixinha came in.

“No disrespect to him, but no one had heard of him.

“We were thinking someone like Alex McLeish, or one of the other names that were bandied about at the time would get the job — someone who knew the history of Rangers and what the club was all about. And then, all of a sudden, Caixinha got the job.

“I don’t think he was the prestigious name that Rangers needed.

“I’m not saying someone like McLeish would have done the job any better or worse.

“But the general feeling around was we needed stability and someone who knew how to get Rangers back challenging. The club went down a different route, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.

“Pedro wasn’t the friendliest manager I have ever had and he didn’t go out of his way to make you part of things.

“He would say hello and maybe pull you aside now and then, but his man-management wasn’t his strongest part.

 

“I liked some of his training sessions, it was a bit different and I took a lot from that.

“But if we are being honest, his time at Rangers wasn’t a success.

“Results are what you get judged on, and they weren’t good enough.

“The way Pedro handled me at the end, I can’t complain. We had a discussion and he said his bit and I said mine.

“He wanted to go down a different route and I have a lot of respect for that. It did hurt me for a month or so after I left Ibrox.

“I didn’t think I could go anywhere else, because after you have played for such a big club, you think to yourself ‘Where can I go from here?’.

“It was like there was a void left in me and it took me a long while to decide to join Carlisle.” Since Hill, 39, left Ibrox for the last time, Murty had a second spell in charge, after Caixinha was axed last season.

Hill believes after a few false starts, Ibrox chiefs have finally got the appointment of their new manager right with Steven Gerrard.

 

Hill came up against the Liverpool legend many times as a player and he believes Gerrard can bring success back to Gers.

Hill added: “Rangers need someone who knows the culture of the club and the scrutiny you will get in Glasgow, and I think they have that with Steven Gerrard.

“He will get the respect of the players and fans straight away after the career he has had. That, for me, is an advantage over Caixinha straight away.

“Gerrard has shown his character and teeth a little bit towards the media and he won’t stand for any nonsense about his club. The fans will love that.

“You have to defend your club and Gerrard is doing that. I hope he can close the gap on celtic and put them under a little bit of pressure this season. Rangers will need to build some momentum and you do that by winning games.

“He has a tough start with Aberdeen, Motherwell and celtic away in three of his first four games, but as soon as you put on that Rangers jersey you are a target.

“You are the team the opposition and fans want to beat the most. They have to be on it every game, no matter who they are playing.”

Hill only have spent a season at Ibrox, but he became a cult hero with Gers fans for his goal at celtic Park in a 1-1 draw in 2017.

It’s one of the highlights of his career, and he is amazed some Light Blues supporters continue to follow him back in England with Carlisle, and now as coach at Fleetwood.

Asked about the celtic Park clash, Hill said: “We were 1-0 down and we had a free-kick that was cleared out, but James Tavernier put it through to Emerson Hyndman whose shot was saved and I just gambled early.

“The ball hit my shin and flew into the net and the noise was unbelievable. I shocked myself I had scored and then I couldn’t get out of the net because Kenny Miller was on my back!

“I can remember looking at the celtic fans and all I could see was hatred staring back at me.

“As much as it was good, I was conscious it was only a point.

“We didn’t celebrate other points we picked up away from home, and I look at that the same way.

“It was still a huge moment for me and Rangers, but I was disappointed we didn’t win.

“I played 42 games for Carlisle last season and at every one there seemed to be Gers fans there to watch me.

“It was mind-blowing to see them at every home game. There were some at our friendly game at Morecambe the other week, and it is nice they still think of me even though I was only there a year.”

 

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/3024759/clint-hill-Rangers-pedro-caixinha/

[SeparateEntityMyArse 55,399]

Good guy.

Done his job well and obviously appreciates the club and the opportunity he was given here.

[Perth_Campsie_Ger 18,597]

CLINT HILL has warned Steven Gerrard’s raft of new boys that they will NEVER have experienced anything like being a Rangers player before.

Veteran stopper Hill arrived at Gers at the age of 37 after years plying his trade in the Premier League.

But even he was stunned by the level of expectation surrounding the club, and life in the Glasgow goldfish bowl, when he joined in the summer of 2016.

Hill has told Gerrard’s ten new recruits to enjoy the ride, but they better be ready to join a club where second is nowhere. Hill said: “At Rangers a draw is viewed just like a defeat and that is tough to get your head around. Even after all the years I had been in the game, it was something new.

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“You can’t change the expectation and winning culture Rangers and their fans have.

“They have been brought up on trophies and titles, so no manager can go in and say, ‘You need to calm down the expectations’.

“They are the most successful club in world football, so it is up to the players and staff to rise to that.

“As soon as I heard of Rangers’ interest I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was a joke. I was on holiday when I got a call to say there was a chance and I was thinking, ‘I’m 37, these things don’t happen’.

 

“I put the phone down and didn’t think about it, and then I got another call saying it was on.

“Then I was told when I got home I had to get ready to fly to Glasgow.

“I had a week left of my holiday with the family, but I couldn’t think of anything else other than Rangers.

“We came back and I flew into Glasgow Airport, and there were photographers and TV crews waiting for me to arrive.

“I used to watch the Old Firm games and I thought I knew how big Rangers were, but it took me a good few months to get my head around the place. Just the stature of it, the expectations, and the bubble that Glasgow is.

“I struggled in the first few months, and I was eight or nine games in when I said to myself, ‘Nothing is going to change here — I have to change’.

“I played for big clubs with 30,000 stadiums, and at places like Old Trafford, but Ibrox is unique

“It is 52,000 every other week and fans who are very vocal and passionate about their club.

“Other places you can go out and walk down the street, not in Glasgow. Those things you maybe don’t think about it until you are living it.”

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/3024928/clint-hill-Rangers-steven-gerrard-new-recruits-ibrox-life/

[Perth_Campsie_Ger 18,597]

Duno About anyone else but I loved the big guy. If we could have 11 players with that attitude we would stroll the league

[Blumhoilann 6,715]

8 minutes ago, Perth_Campsie_Ger said:

Duno About anyone else but I loved the big guy. If we could have 11 players with that attitude we would stroll the league

100% mate and I thought if he'd been given one more season we might have finished 2nd.

[1690tamRFC 5,001]

Big guy is fucking top class. 

[Iggy666 2,967]

Wish we had got him 10 years earlier. Would have been up there with the greats in my opinion. Loved the big man.

[Straight-Edge-Loyal 6,700]

One of the few bright spots over the last few years a real gentleman off the pitch and a warrior on it. My only regret with him is we didn't get him up here earlier. 

[McEwan's Lager 32,076]

Out of all the players I’ve met he’s one of the best - he spent a good 45 minutes chatting to us.

[Laudrup1984 25,100]

57 minutes ago, Perth_Campsie_Ger said:

CLINT HILL has warned Steven Gerrard’s raft of new boys that they will NEVER have experienced anything like being a Rangers player before.

Veteran stopper Hill arrived at Gers at the age of 37 after years plying his trade in the Premier League.

But even he was stunned by the level of expectation surrounding the club, and life in the Glasgow goldfish bowl, when he joined in the summer of 2016.

Hill has told Gerrard’s ten new recruits to enjoy the ride, but they better be ready to join a club where second is nowhere. Hill said: “At Rangers a draw is viewed just like a defeat and that is tough to get your head around. Even after all the years I had been in the game, it was something new.

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––

“You can’t change the expectation and winning culture Rangers and their fans have.

“They have been brought up on trophies and titles, so no manager can go in and say, ‘You need to calm down the expectations’.

“They are the most successful club in world football, so it is up to the players and staff to rise to that.

“As soon as I heard of Rangers’ interest I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was a joke. I was on holiday when I got a call to say there was a chance and I was thinking, ‘I’m 37, these things don’t happen’.

 

“I put the phone down and didn’t think about it, and then I got another call saying it was on.

“Then I was told when I got home I had to get ready to fly to Glasgow.

“I had a week left of my holiday with the family, but I couldn’t think of anything else other than Rangers.

“We came back and I flew into Glasgow Airport, and there were photographers and TV crews waiting for me to arrive.

“I used to watch the Old Firm games and I thought I knew how big Rangers were, but it took me a good few months to get my head around the place. Just the stature of it, the expectations, and the bubble that Glasgow is.

“I struggled in the first few months, and I was eight or nine games in when I said to myself, ‘Nothing is going to change here — I have to change’.

“I played for big clubs with 30,000 stadiums, and at places like Old Trafford, but Ibrox is unique

“It is 52,000 every other week and fans who are very vocal and passionate about their club.

“Other places you can go out and walk down the street, not in Glasgow. Those things you maybe don’t think about it until you are living it.”

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/3024928/clint-hill-Rangers-steven-gerrard-new-recruits-ibrox-life/

Could read or listen to his thoughts all day. Really does seem to be one of the good guys which is is a rarity these days.

Fascinating to read his insight that despite all his experience in the game that even he found it hard to get his head around the magnitude of the size of our club whilst still acknowledging the demand and standards from us fans. When someone like him finds it difficult it's no wonder many others just can't cope with playing for us. I think on paper we've signed a lot of decent players over the years but mentally and emotionally they just can't handle it And ultimately so many have failed.

That's why it's imperative to have someone of the standing of Gerrard to be leading us, changing their mentality when they arrive and stressing the importance of what is expected, drilling it into them every second of every day.. You also need to try to sign players based on their character just as much as their ability. Having better players, better communication and a close family togetherness too within the squad makes that a bit easier, which unfortunately Hill didn't seem to have under the managers he played for here.

[Jb85 1,786]

I loved his time here. 

[plumbGER 24,518]

Great big guy, a good pro and genuinely likeable guy.

[BEE 4,880]

Liked reading the last bit - with him, Barton and Holt at Fleetwood I reckon it’ll be similar.