TO SILENCE that mouthy supporter last week, Jack Butland should have dug out the old Dean Saunders line from the nineties.
Edging towards the fag end of his career, the Welsh international was going through a barren spell at Sheffield United when a frustrated Blades fan gave it the old ‘I pay your wages’ routine. Saunders shut him up instantly by asking if his match ticket now cost ten grand a week.
Butland has proven his worth to Rangers with a series of match-winning performances. He’s under no obligation to line the pockets of entitled bozos chasing a signed shirt to flog to the highest bidder on eBay.
Caught on camera fighting his corner after a 4-1 win over Kilmarnock, the keeper is the very last player any supporter should be digging up now. It’s thanks to him that Philippe Clement’s side travel to Parkhead with any chance of winning the title at all.
If social media is anything to go by, he got off lighter than others. Borna Barisic was so irked by the performance appraisal of another gobby punter he finally discovered the fight missing that time Liel Abada picked his pocket at the back post at Parkhead.
Even Clement showed signs of feeling a bit of tension when he accused opposite number Brendan Rodgers of showing a lack of respect towards his players.
In isolation, none of these incidents matter a jot. Put them together and they pose a question.
Jack Butland was moved to defend himself against criticism of the time he gives to fans
![Borna Barisic has long been a source of frustration with supporters and it finally spilled over](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/16/84713153-0-image-a-83_1715355827419.jpg)
Borna Barisic has long been a source of frustration with supporters and it finally spilled over
If Rangers players and management allow a bit of pre-match verbals to tug their chain, how will they cope with 60,000 Celtic fans booing their every move?
If Barisic and Butland think the fans last weekend were out of order, they should probably steel themselves for what lies in wait if they surrender the title to their biggest rivals.
There are days when a bit of the old Jock Wallace jungle spirit is called for. A military man stationed in the Malay Peninsula in the 1950s, Big Jock ordered his players to run up and down ‘Murder Hill’ at Gullane Sands until they threw up. When they had nothing left to give, he told them to do it all again in the relentless pursuit of ‘character’.
An intangible quality, character can’t be coached in a footballer. They either have it or they don’t. And three years without a meaningful victory over Celtic leaves ample room for doubt over the character levels in this Rangers dressing room.
Unsettled by the wind-assisted press of their opponents at Ibrox last month, they lost an awful goal after 21 seconds. While Clement praised the fightback of his players, moral victories don’t win trophies.
The concession of more points against Ross County and Dundee raised further doubts over this side’s ability to go the distance in the league.
![Cyriel Dessers leads the inquest as Rangers reflect on a dire display at Dens Park](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/16/84713375-0-image-a-85_1715355912859.jpg)
Cyriel Dessers leads the inquest as Rangers reflect on a dire display at Dens Park
![Todd Cantwell can't bear to look as Ross County celebrate their stunning success in Dingwall](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/16/84713453-0-image-a-86_1715355922792.jpg)
Todd Cantwell can’t bear to look as Ross County celebrate their stunning success in Dingwall
For Rangers players, an ability to beat their biggest rivals is non negotiable. The day he was unveiled as manager, Graeme Souness claimed he’d settle for never beating Celtic if his team won the league. The silence in the room told its own story.
If Clement can’t find a way to win his first Old Firm game in the coming weeks, he’ll be duty-bound to bin the players before their collective failings contrive to bin him.
An opening goal at Parkhead would plant a seed of doubt. Celtic have been first out the blocks in ten of the last 11 meetings of the teams.
Rangers could do with hosing down the inferno by scoring the first goal. A tough place to play for visiting teams, Parkhead becomes just as testing for the players in green and white when events go against them.
When Hearts won in the east end of Glasgow before Christmas, poor old Santa Claus copped it in the neck. By the time the Tynecastle side returned last weekend, a much improved performance felt like Christmas in May.
The Celtic fans who spent months haranguing Brendan Rodgers for the style of football must see now that missing players were a bigger issue than tactics.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/16/84713297-0-image-a-87_1715355947993.jpg)
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/16/84713471-0-image-a-88_1715355957648.jpg)
Restore Cameron Carter-Vickers to the defence and it calms things down. Put Reo Hatate in midfield and the team has more invention.
With his key men back, Rodgers believes his side are now ready to show the best version of themselves.
If he’s right, Rangers will see a golden opportunity to exploit Celtic’s fragility and recruitment failings slip away.
If he’s wrong, Clement’s side have one last chance to show they have more stomach for the fight than anyone gives them credit for. Least of all their own fans.
CLARKE IS MY PRIZE GUY
NO HARM to the names in the frame to be crowned Scotland’s manager of the year.
John McGlynn lifted the PFA Scotland prize last Sunday. And the Falkirk boss now features on a four-man shortlist for the Scottish Football Writers’ Association prize with Philippe Clement, Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty.
With respect to my football writing colleagues, there’s a glaring omission from the list.
![Steve Clarke isn't on the SFWA shortlist but his achievements will live long in the memory](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/16/84713719-0-image-a-89_1715356151032.jpg)
Steve Clarke isn’t on the SFWA shortlist but his achievements will live long in the memory
Steve Clarke is the first Scotland boss to secure automatic qualification for a major tournament since the late Craig Brown. The last time it happened was 26 years ago.
Football is a fast-moving game. The preparations for the Euros have been less than ideal and, if the national team lose all three matches in Germany, they’ll soon be queuing up to present him with a P45 never mind a shiny glass trophy.
Whatever happens now, however, Clarke has given the Tartan Army — and the nation at large — a spring in their step. Thanks to his efforts, tens of thousands of fans are gearing up for a fortnight in Germany. At least.
If that doesn’t make a manager of the year, god knows what will.
HAMMERS MAY LIVE TO REGRET DISCARDING RELIABLE MOYES
DAVID MOYES is a victim of the curse of football managers everywhere. When fans get bored, they’re done for.
![David Moyes can bow out of West Ham with his head held high](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/10/17/84713847-0-David_Moyes_can_bow_out_of_West_Ham_with_his_head_held_high-m-91_1715357442553.jpg)
David Moyes can bow out of West Ham with his head held high
Over four and a half years, the Glaswegian took West Ham to two top-seven Premier League finishes, the Europa League quarter and semi-finals and victory in last season’s Europa Conference League.
By any standard, that’s a decent record. But bigger, wealthier clubs are turning to exotic foreigners and an old boy from Drumchapel Amateurs offers none of the sex appeal and glamour of a Pep or a Jurgen or a Mikel. A former coach of Spain and Real Madrid, Julen Lopetegui could step in and do for West Ham what Unai Emery did for Aston Villa. It’s just as likely he’ll be out on his ear by Christmas.
That’s a risk the populist football club, bowing to the will of the modern fan, is prepared to take. After a few years of pain-free travel in a reliable A-to-B, they fancy moving to the next level in a shiny new sports car and start scratching around for an exotic trade-in. For previous examples see McInnes, Derek (Aberdeen).